Uncas vintage costume jewelry

Uncas vintage costume jewelry
Founded in 1913 by Italian born Vincent Sorrentino (1892-1976), The Uncas Manufacturing Co. has become the legend in the world of costume jewelry. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, the company became known as “America’s Largest ring house”. According to advertising by the company itself (“Jewelers Circular Keystone”, September, 1948) it produced costume jewellery, novelties, and plastics.

As for Uncas Manufacturing Co., Vincent Sorrentino first registered the Sorrento company in 1911 in Providence, Rhode Island. Of course, the earliest Sorrento jewelry is difficult to find now and they are a collectible rarity. However, in the early 1920s, Sorrentino renamed his company into Uncas Manufacturing Co. Noteworthy, the Sorrentino family still continues the jewelry business.

Nicholas Barbieri was a designer of novelties for Uncas from 1937 to 1948. Traditionally, the designers used sterling silver, sometimes 12 K gold, marcasite, multicolor enamel, rhinestones. Also, they signed their decorations with Uncas arrow U, and sterling.
As for the markings, first it was the trademark was “U-arrow” with the logo made up of a U with an arrow going through it. The letters DCE appeared later, in 1950, when Curtis creation jewelry manufacturing co began working for Uncas.

Uncas vintage costume jewelry