Yin Yang black and white clip on earrings. Gold tone metal, rhinestones. 3.8 cm. 1970s. Richard Kerr vintage costume jewelry
Richard Kerr vintage costume jewelry
The history of costume jewelry brand Richard Kerr began in 1946 when WWII veteran, US Navy Lieutenant Richard S. Kerr (January 23, 1920 – September 24, 2016) joined his father’s business. Richard graduated from the University of Illinois in 1943, and married Nancy Rebecca in 1948, with whom they later had two sons and a daughter. The jewelry company, owned by his father Walter H. Kerr (1889-1966), was based in Streator, Illinois. Following his father’s death in 1966, Richard took over and directed the company until his retirement in 1983.
Traditionally, to create a stunning sparkling effect, the company’s craftsmen used Austrian crystals, the number of which in one piece could be more than a thousand. It is hard to imagine how much labor and patience one had to have to manually insert each crystal. The marking on the back side of each item includes “Richard Kerr” on an oval cartouche.
The brand’s high quality, handcrafted products (mostly earrings) which were produced from 1946 to 1983, are highly collectible today.
Black rhinestone dangle clip on earrings. 10 cm. 1980sSignature
Richard Kerr vintage costume jewelry
Blue faceted crystal gold tone clip on earringsClear rhinestone star design clip on earringsDangle drop gold tone, austrian crystals earringsDrop dangle earrings. Gold tone alloy, rhinestones, velvet. 9.5 cm. 1980sGold tone double leaf design clip on earrings. 4 cm. 1970sHalloween pumpkin red and green rhinestone clip on earringsIllusion circles black and white rhinestone clip on earrings. 1980sLeopard rhinestone brooch. 1980sMulticolor Swarovski crystals gold tone clip on earringsPave Aurora borealis rhinestone drop dangle clip on earrings. 1980sPolka dot black and white crystal clip on earringsRectangular shaped black rhinestone gold tone clip on earringsRed rhinestone gold tone clip on earringsSan Francisco football helmet dangle clip on earrings. Gold tone, rhinestonesSignatureSquare shaped leopard rhinestone clip on earringsStar gold tone pave rhinestone clip on earringsTwist design rhinestone dangle clip on earringsTwisted square gold tone rhinestones dangle earringsTrademarkSignature