Jewellery Kaleidoscope

Oval shaped brooch. Gold tone alloy, faux turquoise. 4.5 cm. 1960s. Ballet Jewels Inc vintage costume jewelry

Ballet Jewels Inc vintage costume jewelry
The history of Ballet Jewels brand owned by Harold P. Bass began in New York City in 1952.
Before Harold P. Bass founded his own jewelry company, he successfully worked for Bass-Weiner inc. Thus, according to the patent office, he patented one of his own jewelry designs on July 7, 1942. However, in the early 1950s, Weiner and Bass parted ways. Harold founded his own company, Ballet Jewels Inc. in New York City in 1952. Harold had a son, Thomas, who later became vice president of the company and continued the family business.
Noteworthy, such famous brands as DeLizza&Elster made jewelry for Ballet Jewels Inc.
Today, the company located at 389 5th Ave, is still operating, but its policy and its management have changed. Now it is a premier global supplier of private label costume jewelry and wholesaler of precious metal & gemstone jewelry.
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Jungle head brooch. Gold plated metal, plastic imitating ivory elephant task, turquoises and ruby cabochons. 10 cm. 1942. Marked Alexander Korda. Rice Weiner vintage costume jewelry

Rice Weiner vintage costume jewelry
The company that has made a real contribution to the culture of vintage jewelry, in fact, remained “nameless”. This was due to two factors. First, their own jewelry lines were marked only with the name of the collection. Second, custom-made collections were marked with the name of the customer.
The entire life path of Providence Rhode Island based company Rice-Weiner, which began in 1938 and ended in 1946, can be roughly divided into three milestones. In particular, creation of own collections, collaboration with Alexander Korda and production of jewelry for McClelland Barclay.
In 1938, Louis E. Hirsch, general manager of Rice-Weiner & Co, filed the company’s first patent – the Eagle with Arrows Brooch, designed by Louis C Mark.
Between 1940 and 1941, the company created two wonderful collections “Etrusceana” and “Indo – Craft” (patented by the designer Louis C Mark). Jewelry pieces, which have survived to this day, amaze with their beauty, graceful lines and inspirational dreams of distant countries. According to the Brunialti catalog, the company also had collections based on oriental and Asian motives.
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Angelfish brooch. Gold tone textured metal, jelly belly body lucite. 1961 book piece. Cathe Jewels Inc vintage costume jewelry

Cathe Jewels Inc vintage costume jewelry

Torrance, California based company Cathé Jewels Inc operated for 23 years, from 1961 to May 18, 1984. Initially, Cathe’s products were sold at house parties, as were Sarah Coventry jewelry. Cathé designs often include expensive art glass in unusual color combinations, and imitation of precious stones – sapphire, emerald, pearl, coral, and pearls. Also, the designers used 14 K gold, sterling silver, lucite and rhinestones. Considered highly collectible, the costume jewelry of this company is mentioned in jewelry reference books. Especially valuable is “jelly belly” design in whimsical animal brooches. For example, angel fish, mentioned in the “Fun Jewelry” book by Nancy N. Schiffer with a price of $250.00-$600.00.
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Butterfly brooch. 1960s. Gold tone alloy, turquoise and purple glass cabochons, rhinestones. William De Lillo vintage costume jewelry

William De Lillo vintage costume jewelry

Born 1925 in Antwerp, Belgium, William deLillo moved to the United States in the 1950s. There he began working as a designer of high end fine jewelry for such iconic companies as Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Harry Winston and Miriam Haskell. At Haskell, he immediately caught the eye of lead designer Robert F. Clark.
American designer of Belgian origin, William De Lillo, together with his partner Robert F. Clark, opened his own atelier (1967). Ten years after opening his company, in 1978, the designer had a solo exhibition at the New York Metropolitan Museum. There, in addition to the author’s jewelry creations, he exhibited his brutal sculptures of different-sized geometric shapes. Noteworthy, the Baron and Baroness de Rothschild sponsored his fine jewelry exhibition in Paris in 1978.
During his life De Lillo collaborated with such celebrities as Elizabeth Taylor, Neiman Marcus, I. Magnin, and Bonwit Teller. Also, with such couture designers, as Adolfo, Bill Blass and Norman Norell.
Meanwhile, tired of the rhythm of New York life, in 1976 De Lillo returned to France, where he collaborated with Schiaparelli, Chanel, and Nina Ricci fashion houses. However, after the “French break” he again moved to the USA, Arizona, where he worked until the end of his life in 2011. Produced in extremely limited editions, De Lillo jewelry is highly collectible, kept in museums and private collections.
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Poppy flower brooch. Gold filled, sterling silver, emerald tone rhinestones. Signed Jolle vintage costume jewelry

Signed Jolle vintage costume jewelry
American jewelry brand Jolle appeared in New York in 1942 thanks to its founders Jack H. Appel and Lester L. Hess. Noteworthy, the company’s main designers Lester Hess and freelancer George E. Fearn had previously worked for the other jewelry companies. In particular, Uri Mandle and Karu.
Traditionally, when creating costume jewelry, craftsmen used sterling silver with the addition of gold, crystals, rhinestones, glass and sometimes enamel. All products were labeled Jolle Sterling, or simply Jolle. Although Jolle decorations were produced for a very short period of time, just over a decade, they became collectible, and were mentioned in reputable jewelry reference books. Noteworthy, Russian Cossack Dancers brooches, Hess-Appel’s 1943 patented design, book piece. Sterling silver, enamel. The Jolie brand ceased to exist in 1954.
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Gatsby girl Art Deco brooch pin. Faux pearls, rhinestones, hand painted porcelain. Elvira Jackie porcelain face vintage brooches

Elvira Jackie porcelain face vintage brooches
Miami, Florida based family owned company Originals by ELVIRA & JACKIE CORP began its activity in the 1970s and ceased to exist in 1997. Its president was Ulises Pino, treasurer Elvira Pino and secretary Jacqueline Causer, according to official records filed in 1987.
Although the company operated for no more than two decades, it created memorable unique pieces that are collectible today. Traditionally, the craftsmen of this company used porcelain, rhinestones, plastic, art glass and faux pearls. Also, they manually painted delicately shaped faces – red lips, black eyebrows, wonderful eyes lined with lashes and a splash of blue eyeshadow… These beautiful female faces resemble the style of the great Gatsby girls of the Art Deco era. Noteworthy, all these vintage pieces have a distinctive markings on the back “Elvira and Jackie”.
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Little Witch brooch Lehman design. Hard plastic, handpainted. Fun World Division vintage holiday pins

Fun World Division vintage holiday pins
This Halloween 2 inches tall pin belongs to the American company whose logo is Fun World For All Seasons. Indeed, for all seasons, as all jewelry lines created by this company celebrate our favorite holidays. Halloween, Christmas Day, New Years day, St. Valentine’s Day, Easter…
The history of the company begins in 1959 when Sam Rosenberg set up his own business before retiring. At the age of 59, he founded the S. Rosenberg Christmas company, importing Christmas and Easter souvenirs and dolls from Japan. However, in April 1963 his son-in-law Stanley Geller became the new owner of the company. He renamed the company Funworld Easter Unlimited and began working with factories in Japan, followed by Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The main designer of the company in the 1970s-1980s was S. Lehman, whose name is often stamped on the back side of the decorations. Also, the signature includes the country of manufacture – China and trademarks, for example, “© FUN WORLD DIV CARLE PLACE N.Y., “© S. LEHMAN”. Made of hard plastic, handpainted with the use of glitter and acrylic, the pins are considered collectible. Noteworthy, most of these sweet decorations come in a gift box ready for gift giving or keeping.
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