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VINTAGE JEWELRY DESIGNERS - C Cabin Craft: Founded in 1933 by Doris Heise in Ephraim, Wisconsin. Made silver jewelry. Doris made all the jewelry herself. High quality, hand crafted pieces. Doris died in 1997. Cadoro: (pr: Ca DOOR o) Founded in the 1960s by Dan Steneslieu, a descendant of the Romanian royal family, and Steven Brody, a 1950s movie star. Their jewelry displayed handcrafted, custom designs of old world Russia and Romania, with brushed goldtone metal finishes and antique jewelry stones from around the world. Dan Steneslieu, the designer, died in the late 1960s and the company ceased operations in 1970 Calvaire: Calvaire, Inc. was founded by Ray Calish and his wife in the early 1920s. Known for their use of high quality materials and excellent craftsmenship. Probably ceased operations in the mid 1950s. Pot metal jewelry was signed on a plaque with the "C" extending beyond the "al" in Calvaire. Sterling jewelry (produced during World War II) and stamped jewelry was impressed with "Sterling" and Calvaire in block letters. Carl-Art: Founded in providence, Rhode Island in 1937 and in business until the 1980s. Manufactured sterling silver and gold-filled jewelry and accessories. Signed with an arrow going through the letters CA. Carnegie, Hattie: Born Henrietta Kanengesier in Vienna, Austria in 1886. Emigrated to US in 1904. On the ship to America, she supposedly asked the name of America's richest man. Adopted the last name of Andrew Carnegie. In 1909 she opened her first shop, Carnegie-Ladies Hatter. In 1916 she founded Hattie Carnegie, Inc and started manufacturing high-quality costume jewelry to complement her clothing line. Flowers, leaves and fruit are recurring motifs as well as oriental figures and stylized animals. Employed enamel, faux pearls, rhinestones and glass beads. Died in 1956, but production of jewelry and clothing continued. Acquired by the Chromology American Corp. in 1976. Marked "Hattie Carnegie", "Carnegie" or "HC". Her jeweled hair ornaments and cases may be marked "Pooped Pussy Cat" or "Pooped Poodle". Castlecliff: Founded by Clifford Furst in New York in 1937 and out of business in the 1970s. Bold, intricate jewelry of good quality materials. William Markle was the chief designer. Large signed pieces are the most sought after. The jewelry is usually marked Castlecliff on a cartouche. During the last 15 years of production, the copyright symbol was added. Caviness, Alice: After World War II and her success in the garment industry, Alice Caviness began production of costume jewelry on Long Island, New York. Her pieces are characterized by the use of high quality materials and unusual combinations of colors and stones. She died in 1983 but production of jewelry continues on under the leadership of her partner Lois Stevens. Jewelry is marked Alice Caviness. Celebrity: Costume jewelry marked Celebrity may have been made by a New York company named Celebrity Jewelry Co. and was marketed through home party plans similar to Sarah Coventry. (Not to be confused with the Celebrity Jewelry Co. of Philadelphia who manufactures only fine jewelry.) Celebrity jewelry is of variable quality with the rinestone pieces commanding higher prices. Three different signatures were used: Celebrity, Celebrity, NY on an oval plaque, and Celebrity with a copyright symbol. One one piece in a set may be marked. Chanel: (pr: SHA Nell). Coco Chanel was born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel in Saumur, France in 1883. She made her living as a seamstress. In 1909 she opened a millinery shop in Paris. In 1914, with the financial backing of her wealthy lover Boy Capel, she opened her first house of couture in Paris. By the 1920s she was one of the leading Parisian designers. She then opened a boutique in her Paris salon for accessories and jewelry that complemented her fashions rather than imitating the fine jewelry of the age. She was known for her rows and rows of faux pearls and an abundance of ropes and chains. In 1939 she lost her house of couture at the beginning of World War II. In 1945 she was exiled to Switzerland for her love affair with a Nazi officer. She reopened her salon in 1954 with her "comeback" collection. In 1960 she began working with Parisian designer Robert Goossens as her chief designer. In 1971, Chanel died at the age of 88. Her company continued to produce collections that were reissues of her signature style until 1983 when Karl Lagerfeld took over as director. Charel: (pr: SHA Rell) Charel Jewelry Co, Inc was founded in Brooklyn NY circa 1945. Manufactured a complete line of costume jewelry which is not commonly found on the market. Ciner: (pr: SEE ner) Ciner Manufacturing Company was founded by Emanuel Ciner in 1892 and produced fine jewelry. They began manufacturing high quality costume jewelry in 1931 and are still in business today. Ciner pieces look like fine jewelry, but employ rhinestones rather than gemstones. Most pieces after 1945 are marked Ciner. Cini: (pr: CHEE nee) Cini was founded in Boston in 1922 by Gugleilmo Cini, an Italian immigrant. Cini was a master jeweler whose hallmark was sterling repousse, filigree, solid three dimensional and sometimes hand wrought pieces - all exquisite, all collectible. Almost always signed Cini. Ceased operation in 1970, but resumed in 1993. Claudette: Trademark of the Premier Jewelry Co, Inc. first used in 1945. The jewelry employed quality stones and fine workmanship. Probably ceased operation in mid 1950s. Coppola e Toppo: (pr: CO pola e TOW po) Founded in the late 1940s in Milan, Italy by brother and sister jewelry designers Bruno Coppola and Lyda Toppo. Known for multiple strands of crystal, Murano glass and plastic beads. Early 1940s pieces are signed Mikey (their pet dog). 1950s pieces are marked "Made in italy by Coppola e Toppo". Also produced jewelry for Dior, Balenciaga and Schiaparelli during this period. Absorbed by a large Italian company in 1972 which continued production of Coppola e Toppo jewelry. Ceased operations in 1986. Coro: Founded in 1901 by Emanuel Cohn and Gerald Rosenberg in New York. By mid 1920s Coro was the largest manufacturer of costume jewelry. Ceased production in 1979. Coro used many different marks: Coro in use since 1919, Coro Craft since 1937, Corocraft after World War II, Pegasus (winged horse) after World War II, Coro Elegant and Coro Supreme on pearl jewelry, Corograms on initial jewelry, Corolite, Coro Radiance, Corochrome, Coro-Klad, Coro Magic and Coro Originals. More than 70 additional trademarks were used such as: Aristocrat and Valiant on pearls, Quick-Trik and Round the Clock on earrings, Dreamboat on lockets, Andree on accessories, and Cellini, Jewelcraft, Colorama, Debutante, Duette, Maharani, Paragon, Raven, Splendor and Vendome. Early Coros, Duettes, figurals with a clear lucite central stone known as jelly belly, Mexican sterling pieces, some Corocrafts, most Vendomes and well designed sets of the 1930-1950 era are highly collectible. Crislu: Crislu was started in 1961 by Lloyd Crisfield. he is still the CEO of the company. They sell to some department stores including Nordstroms and Bloomingdale's, Las Vegas Casinos, and many boutiques throughout the United States and Europe. They state that they manufacture everything from stud earrings to giant tennis necklaces with a retail price range of $60 to $1000. Cristobal: Founded in London in 1986 as a retailer of 20th century costume jewelry. In the late 1990s, owners Steven Miners and Yai Thammachote launched their own limited edition designs. There are four series: the Butterfly Collection, the Secret Garden Collection, the London Collection and the X-mas Collection. Used only the highest quality Austrian crystals mostly from the 1940s and the 1950s. Czech Glass Jewelry: From the 1890s to late 1930s, distinctive and beautiful costume jewelry was produced in Gablonz, Czechoslovakia which employed glass stones in rich colors and filigree backings. The more complex and ornate the piece, the more collectible and higher priced. Often signed Czech or Czechoslovakia after World War I ended circa 1918. Prior to that it would be made in Bohemia as Czechoslovakia did not come into existence until 1918. |
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