Kaleidoscope effect

Jewellery kaleidoscope

Signed Calvaire vintage costume jewelry

Calvaire vintage costume jewelry

Sailor with accordion vintage brooch. Silver tone metal, enamel, rhinestones. 1940s. Calvaire vintage costume jewelry

Signed Calvaire vintage costume jewelry

Happy Sailor playing the accordion – an interesting figural vintage brooch of the Second World War period, reflecting the spirit of alliance and carrying historical information. This brooch, like all costume decorations marked Calvaire, belongs to the American jewelry company Calvaire Inc. NY. founded in the early 1920s. Noteworthy, its founders, Stella Aronson (1885 – 1968) and Rachel Calish (c. 1884 – 1951) practically did not produce costume jewelry themselves. Instead, they traveled to Europe. In particular, to France, where they bought the best examples of costume jewelry of the time, putting their hallmark on them.
During WWII, when the war raged in Europe, they continued to buy jewelry in the United States. There are several types of hallmarks of this company – “Calvaire” in script, or “Sterling Calvaire”, or “Le Petit Paris, Calvaire, Paris – New York”.
The company’s decline began in the 1950s when Rachel C. Calish, co-founder and bookkeeper of the company died on 9 September 1951 in New York. After working for another two or three years, the company ceased to exist. Today, all products of this brand are rare and collectible, the price of which increases every year.

American flag patriotic pin brooch. Sterling silver, enamel, blue, red and clear rhinestones

American flag patriotic pin brooch. Sterling silver, enamel, blue, red and clear rhinestones

Signature

Maker’s mark

Signed Calvaire vintage costume jewelry

Bow brooch. Gold plated metal, yellow crystals. 1940s

Bow brooch. Gold plated metal, yellow crystals. 1940s

Debutante brooch. Gold plated metal, pink and red enamel, rhinestones. 1940s

Debutante brooch. Gold plated metal, pink and red enamel, rhinestones. 1940s

Gentleman and Lady duette brooches. Gold and silver tone alloy, enamel, porcelain, rhinestones

Gentleman and Lady duette brooches. Gold and silver tone alloy, enamel, porcelain, rhinestones

Harlequin duette brooches. Sterling silver, gold plated, pink crystals, enamel. 5 cm. 1940s

Harlequin, one of duette brooches. Sterling silver, gold plated, pink crystals, enamel. 5 cm. 1940s

Tragedy and comedy theatrical masks brooch. Gold plated metal alloy, crystals. 7 cm. 1940s

Tragedy and comedy theatrical masks brooch. Gold plated metal alloy, crystals. 7 cm. 1940s

Bow brooch. Gold tone metal, faux ruby

Bow brooch. Gold tone metal, faux ruby

Emerald green glass flowers gold bow brooch. Sterling silver, gold plated

Emerald green glass flowers gold bow brooch. Sterling silver, gold plated

Flower pin brooch. Gold tone metal, rhinestones, red glass

Flower pin brooch. Gold tone metal, rhinestones, red glass

Forget-me-not flower bouquet brooch. Gold tone metal, enamel, rhinestones. 1930s

Forget-me-not flower bouquet brooch. Gold tone metal, enamel, rhinestones. 1930s

Shell brooch. Sterling silver

Shell brooch. Sterling silver, gold filled

Harlequin duette brooches. Sterling silver, gold plated, pink crystals, enamel. 5 cm. 1940s

Harlequin, one of duette brooches. Sterling silver, gold plated, pink crystals, enamel. 5 cm. 1940s

Signature

Maker’s mark