Silverman Bros vintage costume jewelry

Silverman Bros vintage costume jewelry
Flower brooch. 925 sterling silver, gold plated. 8 cm, 1940s. Silverman Bros vintage costume jewelry

Silverman Bros vintage costume jewelry
According to a “Saturday Evening Post” article of 1947, the history of the Silverman Bros company began in 1897. An immigrant from Russia, Archibald Silverman came to the United States with his family at the age of ten. He got a job running errands after school for a Providence jewelry house. At the age of 18 with five dollars in his pocket, he started his own business having bought gold wire to make a brooch. In fact, it didn’t take long for a talented designer to become one of the leaders in jewelry making.
When Pope Leo XIII died in 1903, Silverman made several black-bordered pontiff brooches and sold them personally on the streets of Boston. Then, inspired by the then popular music show “Merry Widow wings”, he made a series of jewelry decorations. Also, he became the first to make veil brooches when women started driving the first cars.
Archibald founded manufacturing firm later known as Silverman Brothers in a small space rented from a jewelry factory on Eddie Street Providence.


Crown heraldy design sterling silver vintage brooch
Crown heraldry design sterling silver vintage brooch
Silverman bros., Inc. Trademark
Trademark

Silverman Bros vintage costume jewelry

Charles, Archibald’s brother, who was a foreman at another plant, joined the business after about three months. Archibald was a traveling salesman, and Charles was in charge of production. The sales ability of one brother and the creativity of the other made a very successful combination that survived three wars and several depressions. The firm was a partnership until 1946 and then developed into a corporation. Noteworthy, the company employed about 700 before the WWII. Archibald had three sons – Norman, Irwin, and C. Leon. Norman headed the business after the death of Charles Silverman.
Traditionally, the designers signed their jewelry pieces on the reverse with a circled SB & Sterling.
The company existed for almost 60 years, from 1897 to 1956.

Signature
Maker’s mark
Antique 1940s Water Lily brooch
Antique 1940s Water Lily brooch
Baby duck in a hat and bow sterling silver brooch
Baby duck in a hat and bow sterling silver brooch
Bow sterling silver brooch
Bow sterling silver brooch
Cable car with a conductor sterling silver brooch
Cable car with a conductor sterling silver brooch
Deer sterling Silver gold plated brooch
Deer sterling Silver gold plated brooch
Donkey silver brooch. 1940s
Donkey silver brooch. 1940s
Duckling brooch. Sterling silver, gold wash
Duckling brooch. Sterling silver, gold wash
Floral design pin
Floral design pin
Lily flower sterling silver brooch
Lily flower sterling silver brooch
Pony sterling silver brooch
Pony sterling silver brooch
Snake with apple dangling brooch. Textured sterling silver
Snake with apple dangling brooch. Textured sterling silver
Sterling silver flower brooch
Sterling silver flower brooch
Three hoese head sterling silver pin. 1930s
Three horse head sterling silver pin. 1930s
Signature
Maker’s mark

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