Kaleidoscope effect

Filigree Art Deco butterfly brooch. Brass, enamel, faux turquoise. 8 cm. 1920s. Max Neiger vintage costume jewelry

Max Neiger vintage costume jewelry
The Czech Republic is the birthplace of many talented world’s famous jewelry designers. Among them, the Neiger brothers, Max and Norbert, who created their collections for 35 years. The brothers were born and lived most of their lives in the Czech town of Jablonec, the center of technical glass and costume jewellery production in Bohemia.
Norbert, after graduating from the Jablonec technical school in 1905, was the first to start a business, and later his younger brother joined him. Norbert handled the economics and Max was the designer. After the First World War, they produced jewelry only according to Max’s sketches. The demand for their high quality and highly artisan jewelry was great in Europe and America.
The fame of the high quality and modern design of the Neiger brothers’ jewelry spread quickly. Sales of products and the number of new customers grew. In 1926, the brothers expanded their jewelry production and moved to new, more suitable premises. By this time, they already had two dozen employees.
Noteworthy, the Neiger brothers did not label the jewelry they produced. They saw no need for this. Besides, the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, by a decree of October 14, 1920 required marking only for items made of gold and silver.
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Flower brooch. Gold plated sterling silver, art glass, rhinestones. 9.5 cm. 1940s. Nordic Sterling vintage costume jewelry

Nordic Sterling vintage costume jewelry
New York, N. Y. based jewelry designer of German origin, Frederick Bieberbach (1877-1954) worked for 23 years as the head designer at “Henry Blank and Company” located in New Jersey (from 1912 to 1935). Active from the 1890s until late 1940s, Newark firm of Blank was one of the largest and most successful companies producing jewelry and women’s jeweled wristwatches, pendants, chatelaines, as well as men’s wrist- and pocket watches.
Then, Frederick Bieberbach founded his own company “Nordic Silver Co Inc.” in the 1940s. However, his company worked for a short period, not more than a decade. The short term of work of this company, which produced such high-quality jewelry, is due to the designer’s age (70s), and, his death in 1954.
According to Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, Bieberbach invented original ornamental designs in 1945. Traditionally, he used gold vermeil finish, sterling silver with art glass imitating emeralds, sapphire and ruby, and rhinestones. Signed on the reverse “sterling by Nordic”, or “Nordic Sterling”, most designs include Art Deco style – swirls, ribbons, bows and floral spray brooches and pins.
Gorgeous classic retro style vintage pieces hand crafted by Nordic in the 1940’s are highly collectible now.
According to the vintage jewelry reference books, the company worked with Eisenberg from 1943 to 1948, so sometimes you come across brooches with double markings: Nordic sterling and Eisenberg.
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Delicate flower brooch. 925 silver, enamel. Norwegian vintage Elvik silver jewelry

Norwegian vintage Elvik silver jewelry
Behind the Norwegian company “Elvik & Co” stands a famous dynasty of silversmiths of several generations. First, its founder Nils Erik Elvik (1853-1935), then his son Nils Martin Elvik (1887-1948), and grandsons Arnold and Edward.
Having received a master’s certificate in 1911, Nils Martin opened a workshop named “Nils M. Elvik Silver and Enamel Factory”. According to the name, the basis of his production was enamel products. His sons were involved in jewelry from childhood, and when the grew up, their father opened another factory for the production of silver and enamel products. Edward headed the factory in 1938.
Officially registered in 1941, Elvik & Co items appeared long before the registration, in the late 19th century. Its founder, Edward Elvik, named the family company after his grandfather, the founder of a dynasty of silversmiths. Initially created to sell products of a family business consisting of two factories, Elvik & Co. expanded. Arnold Elvik (b. 1918), another son of Nils Martin, entered the family business in 1942 and ran another Elvik company from 1947 as a workshop business.
After the death of Nils Martin in 1948, his sons closed one factory. Finally, the Elvik & Co company was a workshop and store selling silver and enamel products. The company was initially located at Storgaten 20, then moved to Vindern (since 1986) and then to Bryn, Oslo.
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Orchid enameled sterling silver brooch. Aksel Holmsen vintage costume jewelry

Aksel Holmsen vintage costume jewelry
The history of the Aksel Holmsen jewelry brand began in 1904, when a Norwegian silversmith Aksel Holmsen (1973–1962) opened a small workshop in Sandefjord. However, before opening his own workshop, Holmsen studied jewelry for many years. In particular, in the workshop of famous Norwegian silversmith David Andersen in Oslo. There he studied filigree work, the creation of delicate decorative patterns from silver and gold wire. After completing his general studies in 1901, he continued to work for David Andersen until 1904.
A talented craftsman and businessman, Holmsen has become a successful major supplier of enamel and silver jewelry all over the world. Most of his gilded silverware with enamelled guilloche patterns contain a modernist aesthetic. In 1950 Holmsen retired and his son Ivar, who had been with the company since 1942, took over the company. In 1962 Aksel Holmsen died, and his company filed for bankruptcy in 1971.
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Mayflower 1940s brooch. 12 K Gold filled, carved lucite. 9 cm. Signed Winard vintage costume jewelry

Signed Winard vintage costume jewelry
The history of the American company Winard Jewelry Co. covers two periods – a fairly short one from 1946 to 1958, and from 1964 to 2005.
Located in New York NY, a small jewelry company produced exquisite jewelry in very limited editions, and sold them in jewelry boutiques. Traditionally, craftsmen used 10, 12, and 14 carat gold fillings. Accordingly, jewelry markings include the Winard company name and the purity of the gold filling, such as 12K G.F. Also, the craftsmen of this company used precious stones – corals, pearls, jade and ivory. Distinguished by exquisite designs, quality materials and meticulous handcraft, Winard jewelry is rare in the vintage jewelry market, and highly collectible .
Noteworthy, Winard closed its doors in 1958, but six years later the company was reborn. According to Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, Winard Inc. registered two trademarks on March 27, 1964 – “Winard” and “Elm”. Both companies produced men’s and ladies jewelry – tie clips, cuff links, key chains, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, brooches, hair pins, and anklets. The materials and product labeling have not changed since 1964. Accordingly, it is very difficult to determine the period of manufacture of a product, whether it was made in the 1940-50s or in the 1960-80s. The companies ceased to exist in 2005.
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Maltese cross brooch. Gold tone textured metal alloy, enamel, crystals. 5 cm. 1980s. Signed Pisces vintage costume jewelry

Signed Pisces vintage costume jewelry
The history of American vintage jewelry brand Pisces spans more than 43 years. Founded in 1977 by Enrique L Lopez, the company’s and the store address is 5 S Wabash Ave, Ste 1107, Chicago, Illinois. The company specializes in wholesale and retail, custom made jewelry and repair. Talented jewelry maker and businessman Enrique Lopez is 75 today and his store offers many unique, high-end pieces created by him.
The company with $1.2 million in annual revenues, Pisces employs approximately 7 people, and some of them have worked since 1977. Traditionally, the craftsmen use high quality materials, including gold or silver plated metal alloys, rhinestones, art glass, enamels and semi-precious stones. Made in 1970-90s in limited editions, signed “Pisces” with a copyright sign hand crafted jewelry is quite rare and highly collectible.
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Crab realistic hand crafted brooch. Pewter. 5.5 cm. 1970s. Salisbury Pewter vintage costume jewelry

Salisbury Pewter vintage costume jewelry
The history of U.S. family owned jewelry company ‘Salisbury Pewter’ began in 1979 in a small town of Easton, Maryland. The secret to the quality is that each piece is made by hand – hand-spun, hand-trademarked, and hand-polished to look like silver, but much cheaper. Vintage cuff bracelets, mostly “Flower of the Month” series, as well as pendants and brooches by this company are rare and highly collectible.
According to the article in The Washington Post (July 12, 1990), the company has earned a reputation as the maker of pewter for presidents. Among them, in particular, Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Thus, they took 352 pewter jewelry boxes from Salisbury Pewter to the summit in Helsinki in 1988. Also, among regular customers are members of Congress, and other officials. In 1990 Tiffany & Co presented four items from Salisbury Pewter in Christmas catalog. Noteworthy, Tiffany has been a customer of Salisbury Pewter for several years, although under Tiffany’s name.

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