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Expert in vintage costume jewelry from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s & 1950s

Jewelry Makers S - Z

ELSA SCHIAPARELLI

(France & United States, 1930s – 1973)

Born in Rome, Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973) moved to Paris in the 1920s and established an Haute Couture House there in 1927. She soon began producing costume jewelry along with clothing, perfume and other accessories. After spending the war years in New York, Schiaparelli returned to Paris in 1945 to resume her fashion business. In 1949, she opened Schiaparelli Jewels, a New York-based company. She closed her Maison and moved to New York in 1954.

Through Schiaparelli Jewels, she licensed her name for the mass production of costume jewelry and accessories designed in France. D. Lisner & Co. in New York, who was the authorized importer and distributor of her jewelry since 1938, and several jewelry makers in Philadelphia executed her designs. This company was sold in 1973.

Schiaparelli believed that costume jewelry was an integral part of fashion design as well as an art form in its own right. Her early work, which reflected her interest in nature and Surrealism, is often characterized as whimsical, exotic or highly stylized. Her “Shocking Pink” collection in 1936, at a time when a black cocktail dress was the height of fashion, is a reflection of Surrealist principles (i.e., “the metaphor of splashing the ‘black cocktail dress’ of society with vivid and outrageous color”, according to Judith Miller in Miller’s Costume Jewelry). Salvador Dali, Jean Cocteau and Christian Bérard, Surrealist artists and friends of Schiaparelli, designed some pieces for her. Other designers with whom she collaborated include Lyda Coppola, Jean Schlumberger, Jean Clément and Roger Jean-Pierre.

Jewelry produced in the 1950s employed unusual and often very colorful stones and glass in abstract, floral and faunal designs. “Shocking pink” is Schiaparelli’s signature color, and the faux tourmaline is her signature stone. Irregularly shaped chunky stones such as the “lava rocks” are also prevalent in her jewelry. Chunky bracelets are her signature pieces.

In 2006, Diego Della Valle acquired the archives and rights to the brand. The Couture House re-opened in 2012 at Hôtel de Fontpertuis, 21 place Vendôme, the same place “Schiap” left it. She was the muse for the spring 2020 haute couture collection, designed by Daniel Roseberry. Read about his nod to the 1930s and Surrealism in my blog post The Jewels of Maison Schiaparelli: Yesterday & Today.

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SCHREIBER & HILLER

(Germany, 1920 – 1993)

Although much of their jewelry is known to vintage costume jewelry collectors, accurate information has not been published about the company, until now. The company was founded in 1920 by Rudolf Friedrich Schreiber (1874 – 1944) and August Hiller (1872 – 1939) at 66 Kronprinzenstraße in Pforzheim, a center of jewelry and watch-making since 1767. Ownership passed to Ottilie Schreiber (Rudolf’s widow) and Leonore Grießmayer (née Hiller) in 1946, then to Anni Haubensak, Ilse Stoll (née Grießmayer) and Dieter Grießmayer in 1957. Dieter was the sole owner from 1961 – 1993.

Most of the pieces in the TruFaux Jewels collection were made in the 1930s, based on a patent for an oblong metal link that formed a box to hold channel-set round stones. These pieces are marked “DRGM 1138525”. (“DRGM” is an abbreviation for the German term for utility patent, and 1138525 is the patent number.) Jewelry designs were created by varying the shape of link surfaces: pointed (or “roof-shaped”, as they were called), flat, or curved, as well as the shape and size of links, the patterns of connection, the colors of stones, and the types of materials. The tank-track pattern, so popular in the 1930s Machine Age style, was a common motif.

Nothing is known about Schreiber & Hiller’s operations during World War II. Presumably, war-related production took over their factories. The city was heavily bombed in 1945. The firm’s chronology picks up again in 1950, when their first trademark application was filed. This mark – “ESHA” in a semi-circle – and a second trademark – “RANDEL” – are familiar to many costume jewelry collectors. Both have been mis-interpreted as a person’s name and have been mistakenly referred to as the designer’s name. The first mark should be read as es-ha, which is how the letters “S” and “H” (for the company’s name) are pronounced in German, not as a word pronounced ey-sha. The meaning or significance of the second mark is not known. Both marks appear on costume jewels made in the 1950s. Read more about Schreiber & Hiller.

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SCHREINER

(United States, 1932 – 1975)

Henry Schreiner (1898-1954), a jewelry worker born in Premich, Germany, immigrated to the U.S. in 1923. He opened the Schreiner Jewelry Co. in New York City, in 1932. His daughter Terry and her husband, Ambros Albert, joined the family business in 1951. After Henry died, they continued to produce Schreiner jewelry using the original molds.

The firm prospered in the 1950s-1960s, when their large, elaborate rhinestone jewelry was in style. During those decades, the company produced jeweled buckles, buttons, belts, brooches, necklaces, and earrings for all of the top American fashion houses. Clients included Pauline Trigère, Norman Norelle, Adele Simpson, and Christian Dior. Schreiner jewelry adorned models in many fashion shows as well as photo shoots for Vogue, including the covers of the June 1, 1952, and March 1, 1954, issues. Because of this exposure, the company never advertised.

Most stones came from pre-war Czechoslovakia, then from Germany (where the stones were made by Czech immigrants). Some stones were made especially for Schreiner. Their keystones (kite-shaped crystals that were Schreiner’s signature stone) were made by Czechs in post-war Germany. These stones were used in the ruffle pin Terry designed in 1957 and in Maltese crosses.

No trademark was registered for the company. Only pieces made for department stores were stamped “Schreiner” or “Schreiner New York”. Jewelry made for the fashion houses was not signed. Even without the maker’s mark, many Schreiner pieces can be identified because of their distinctive style, elaborate designs, and high-quality of materials.

Typical characteristics include the following: unfoiled and inverted (i.e., set upside-down) stones, both intended to pick up the color of the material beneath them; large, unusually-shaped crystals; dome-shaped brooches; unconventional yet imaginative color combinations; large triangular prongs; japanned settings; and hook-and-eye construction. Schreiner’s pieces were set and finished by hand, so the output was limited. Huge bib necklaces and parures are especially rare.

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R.F. SIMMONS

(United States)

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TRIFARI

(United States, 1925 to the present)

Gustavo Trifari (1883-1952), a goldsmith from Naples, Italy, partnered with Leo F. Krussman (1888-1952), a salesman, in 1918 in New York City to design and manufacture hair ornaments and costume jewelry. The company became Trifari, Krussman & Fishel (TKF) when Carl M. Fishel (1878-1964) joined in 1925. Krussman was president, Trifari was in charge of production, and Fishel was responsible for marketing and sales. Offices were located at 337 Fifth Avenue.

In 1930, Alfred Philippe was hired as a designer. He then was named head designer, a position he held until 1968. His talent, education in art and design, and experience in fine jewelry were an important factor in the company’s success. TKF soon became the second-largest producer of costume jewelry in the U.S. In 1939, the plant was moved to Providence, Rhode Island, while the offices and design department stayed in New York. By 1952, the number of Providence plants grew to four. Ownership of the company passed to the founders’ children in 1964. The firm underwent a series of mergers and corporate owners from 1975 until 2000, when it was bought by Liz Claiborne, and all operations were moved off-shore.

From their beginning through the 1950s (the period collected by TruFaux Jewels), TKF manufactured jewelry aimed at a medium-high market segment. Their collections were well-received by editors of fashion publications such as Women’s Wear Daily and Vogue. Like many other costume jewelry makers, Trifari imitated fine jewelry. However, their approach was unique: their elaborate and sophisticated designs were manufactured with the highest-quality materials and the same techniques employed in the making of fine jewelry. Their extensive use of diamanté earned the company the nickname “The Rhinestone Kings”.

Trifari created exclusive designs for Broadway musicals, theatre and film in the 1930s and beyond. Illustrious clients included First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, for whom the company designed a pearl set for each of her husband’s inaugurations.
With his experience at William Scheer Inc. in New York, a top-notch fine jewelry company that collaborated with Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, Alfred Philippe was responsible for many innovations and popular lines. Most notable among them are invisible settings, enameled floral pins in the 1930s,Fruit Salads (produced in the mid-1930s and again in the early 1940s),Jelly Bellies (which first appeared in 1940) andCrown Pins(produced from the late 1930s to the 1950s).

Gustavo Trifari was also an innovator: in 1932, he patented a “Clip Brooch” that enabled two clips to be mounted together on a pin bar for use as a brooch or worn as separate clips. In 1936, an Alfred Philippe design for a double clip brooch was patented. This version became known as “Clip-Matesand was Trifari’s answer to Coro’s extremely popular “Duette. (You can see this utility patent here.) In 1947 Gustavo invented Trifanium, a metal alloy which the company used in place of sterling silver after World War II.

In 1955 TKF sued Charel Co. over design copyright infringement and won. With this ruling, copyright protection for costume jewelry designs as works of art was established, and jewelry manufacturers added the copyright symbol to their makers’ marks. As a result, we know that all costume jewelry stamped with a copyright symbol was produced after 1955.

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WACHENHEIMER BROS.

(United States, 1905 – 1934)

Wachenheimer Bros. Inc. was located at 36 Garnet Street, Providence, Rhode Island, and had a showroom at 303 Fifth Avenue in New York City. The firm was started in 1905 by Jacob, Harry and Samuel Wachenheimer, the sons of German-born immigrants who met, married and settled in Manhattan. The company was incorporated in 1919 by the brothers and Providence attorney John R.Rosenfeld. It remained in operation until around May 1934, although the corporation had been dissolved the previous May.

Best known for their Diamonbar trademark, Wachenheimer Brothers manufactured high-quality sterling silver jewelry. The name Diamonbar first appeared in Vogue advertisements as the name given to a sterling silver and rhinestone bar pin that was first produced in 1916. Harry was granted a patent for the bar pin on October 19, 1920 (U.S. number 1,356,027), although the application was filed on May 24, 1916. He was also granted several patents that defined the ways in which the company’s flexible bracelets, perhaps their most well-known pieces today, were constructed. The first patent (U.S. number 1,219,683) was granted on March 20, 1917. Bracelets with this construction are marked 3 20 17, the patent date rather than the patent number. The second bracelet patent (U.S. number 1,344,365) was granted on June 22, 1920; the application was filed on December 26, 1919. You can see both bracelet patents here.

The Diamonbar trademark, which was registered in 1920, was stamped on Wachenheimer bar pins and bracelets until the end of that decade. Styles of the latter included one-, two-, and three-row flexible bracelets set with round- or square-cut rhinestones to imitate gemstones such as diamond, sapphire, emerald, onyx, ruby, amethyst, topaz as well as combinations. Other flexible bracelets had pierced links, with or without stones. The company’s sterling silver and rhinestone bangle bracelets – in 4mm and 8mm widths – were called Lady Gloria Hinge Bracelets.

By the end of the 1920s, the company launched an entirely different product line: Diamonbar flexible bracelets were replaced by Wachenheimer Real Stone Jewelry, which was advertised in Vogue. These pieces were marked Wachenheimer (the trademark was registered on November 2, 1926) and were made of sterling silver with semi-precious stones, including chrysoprase, carnelian, lapis lazuli, onyx and combinations. Some designs had floral motifs, while others were geometric. Sometimes marcasites were used to accent the colored stones. Matching sets (parures) often included earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, a brooch and a finger ring.

In the early 1930s, the company returned to their product line of one-, two- and three-row sterling silver flexible bracelets, perhaps in an attempt to regain their earlier success. Wachenheimer Brothers was one of many casualties among American costume jewelry manufacturers during the Great Depression.

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WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik)

(Germany, 1927 – ?)

Founded in 1853 by Daniel Straub and the Schweizer brothers in Geislingen an der Steige, WMF began as a maker of household decorative metalware, ceramics, and glass. According to Wikipedia, by 1900 the company was the world’s largest producer and exporter of household metalware in the Art Nouveau style. Today the WMF Group of companies produce wares for food and beverage preparation, cooking, baking, and eating and drinking.

In the late 1920s, the company began to mass-produce inexpensive Bakelite, glass and metal jewelry; ceramics were added in 1939. According to Moro (p.132): “Metal was silver-plated and oxidized in stamped sections which simulated hand-hammering for IKORA Schmuck, the jewelry department of this large factory”. In 1932, IKORA-Kristal, a line of glass jewelry was introduced. It featured a rich array of colors made possible through new manufacturing techniques.

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