Van S Authentic vintage costume jewelry

Van S Authentic vintage costume jewelry
Founded by Joanne and Reginald Lyon Francis Moonan in the 1930s, Authentics Inc was active for about four decades (1930-1969). Later, in the mid-30’s, they renamed their company to Van S. Authentics. According to New York Times, Joanne and Reginald sold their decorations at the Hattie Carnegie salon in New York, and at various stores around the US. Also, Van’s costume jewelry frequently appeared in fashion magazines of the time, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired some of their designs.
Produced in limited edition, in addition to Van’s or Van’s authentic marking, each decoration has a personal number.
During World War II, due to the luck of metals for jewelry, the designers used not ordinary materials, like straw, toy parts, and even nuts. Richard Martin, curator of the Costume Institute of for the costume collection at the Fashion Institute of Technology, when he was the curator there. In 1960s the Moonans sold their company.
New York based costume jewelry designer Joanne A. Moonan created a new company called Wendy Jewelry after her daughter Wendy Lyon Moonan. Of course, it was a completely different company.

Reginald Lyon Francis Moonan died in 1980 and his wife Joanne A. Moonan died in October 1997. She was 84 and lived in Manhattan (The New York times, Oct. 20, 1997).

Van S Authentic vintage costume jewelry