As necklines dipped lower and hair became shorter, the need to wear earrings, bracelets and necklaces every single day became not just a trend, but outfit. Accessorize any outfit for work or play with napier jewelry from belk. Though the history of napier goes back to the late 19thcentury, when the e. For nearly 100 years, napier has crafted exquisite costume and fashion jewelry in vintage and contemporary styles. Marcia brown published her first book, unsigned beauties of costume jewelry, in 2000. Napier fashion jewelry has graced the arms, necks, fingers, and ears of many starlets and fashionable women. Advertized as a sequel to collecting costume jewelry 101, the book is. The napier co defining 20th century american costume jewelry hardcover, by melinda l. Dating napier costume jewelry from the 1920s and 1930s.
Napier, president from 1920 to 1960, refused to use the term costume jewelry to describe his products, and he insisted rhinestones were to be called foilbacked faceted crystal stones. Recommended book about napier jewelry vintage jewels geek blog. Published in january 20, it details the history of the napier company and its beautiful costume jewelry. Vintage napier bracelets are among the most coveted in the genre of vintage costume jewelry. Researching costume jewelry history jewelry signatures b bartek photo courtesy myrna sea. See more ideas about napier jewelry, costume jewelry and jewelry. Although weiss would never get as big as coro and ceased operations altogether in 1971, business was good enough in the 1950s and. Ciner is a highquality jewelry manufacturer still doing business today. Napier is a designer whose pieces i rarely come across. The napier co defining 20th century american costume. Vintage napier brooches are among the most coveted in the genre of vintage costume jewelry.
It has also been a name in the dressing room of the everyday gal for over years. Buy the napier co defining 20th century american costume jewelry by melinda l. Each pair is carefully selected for our customers to bring you the greatest enjoyment in wearing vintage napier jewelry. Collectors and hobbyists will enjoy reading about the founding of monocraft in the late 1920s, and perusing the pages depicting.
A 2 minute selection from the napier book dvd interview with melinda lewis author of the napier book, about what she wanted to accomplish with the napier b. She is the host and cowriter of the awardwinning venture entertainment booksontape series hidden treasures. Weiss excelled at floral and figural brooches and earringsthe company also made numerous styles of bracelets and necklaces. Bliss company made silverware, as well as gilt and silverplate jewelry, the word napier was not associated with costume jewelry until the 1920s. Napier costume jewelry from the 1920s and early 1930s is extremely hard to find and highly prized by both napier enthusiasts and collectors of art deco jewelry. The range in design styles and execution is unparalleled. Lets chat about napier, the napier co book and why it is well worth every penny. Vintage napier earrings the napier book online source.
This book tells the heretofore untold and phenomenal story of the nap. Like ciner costume jewelry, it is often difficult to date napier pieces simply by looking at the mark. Napier book available for pre order will reveal jewelry secrets and burst related myths. This is the definitive history of the napier company a solid and stylish american costume jewelry producer. Vintage costume jewelry is perhaps the easiest way to wear vintage for any modern woman of any background, style or size. For decades, vintage napier jewelry pieces have been collected and passed down from generation to. The napier company is an american jewelry manufacturing company, and was one of the first modern corporations in the united states. Vintage napier costume jewelry vintageandchicfinds. The napier book is a visual encyclopedia of napier jewelry. The definitive history and visual catalog of the napier co.
It chronicles the history of its management, manufacturing, marketing, and most importantly, the unparalleled beauty of napier fashion jewelry. After many women went to work during world war ii, the wearing of costume. Napier bracelet vintage gold chains pearls bracelet costume jewelry. Vintage napier necklace bracelet set book pieces demi parure silver. Our blog features jewelry history articles and search our online shop of napier vintage jewelry. Beginning of a dialog window, including tabbed navigation to register an account or sign in to an existing account. Napier made the majority of its enameled jewelry from the 1960s through the closure of the plant in 1999. The napier co defining 20th century american costume jewelry by melinda l. It was thanks to 1950s fashion that costume jewelry rose in prominence for the everyday woman to wear. She is the cofounder of costume jewelry collectors international, a global organization dedicated to costume jewelry education. The company made egyptian revival necklaces, earrings, and other pieces during the 1920s among other styles, excelling in metalwork accented by faux stones. Napier jewelry book makes collectors smarter collectors.
Thats what bay area old jewelry historian melinda l. Napier costume jewelry from the and is hard to come by and highly valued by collectors. Napier color declaration silvertone aqua swarovski stone leverback drop earrings. Vintage napier jewelry still holds its value with collectors of costume jewelry. This is especially true for the novice collector or dealer that has not studied this type of jewelry extensively. Vintage napier bracelets explore the visual gallery of vintage napier bracelets featured decade by decade.
This book is considered one of the best jewelry reference book in the antiques and collectibles genre and subject guides. Napier marketed 14k gold jewelry on a limited scale in the 1960s and the early 1970s. This book tells the heretofore untold and phenomenal story of the napier co. Some pieces had cultured pearls or small diamond accents. This book has become an essential reference and guide for both collectors and sellers of napier vintage jewelry. It chronicles the history of its management, manufacturing, marketing, and most importantly, the unparalleled beauty of its jewelry. Vintage napier brooches explore the visual gallery of vintage napier bracelets featured decade by decade. The napier co defining 20th century american costume jewelry.
Enameled jewelry at first glance was not a substantial part of the napier co. Sterling silver pieces, as well as bracelets and necklaces featuring glass art charms, are highly soughtafter. Researching costume jewelry history, companies and. The offers a wide selection of vintage napier earrings dating from the 1940s through the 1990s. Napier vintage necklaces, cool necklaces, vintage costume jewelry, vintage. Mar 19, 2018 explore gailfcrocketts board napier costume jewelry, followed by 411 people. Wiggins passion for costume jewelry includes studying pieces in her own collection and items she offers through her businesschic antiques by pamela wigginsas well as exploring how popular culture and historical events shaped adornment worn decades ago. All 14k jewelry was manufactured by an outside source. Napier vintage jewelry information and company history.
See more ideas about jewelry, costume jewelry and vintage. It tells the heretofore untold and phenomenal story of the napier co. Vintage napier rhinestone collar choker necklace 16, signed napier necklace. Vintage charm bracelet, napier jewelry, 50s, asian, coral, turquoise, jade, lapis, silver book chain, snake, chinese junk, costume jewelry madgeshatboxvintage 5 out of 5. Are you bold and brassy enough to wear vintage napier jewelry. Napier global beat silvertone leverback drop earrings. The napier jewelry book is a visual encyclopedia of napier costume jewelry. A 3minute introduction to the napier book the napier co. This is especially true for the novice collector or dealer that has not studied. Shop this large collection of napier jewelry, which includes many vintage pieces. Defining 20th century american costume jewelry, then hopefully this interview will inspire you. See more ideas about napier jewelry, jewelry and vintage costumes. A very substantial book 288 pageswith many gorgeous, color photos of beautiful jewelry and an extensive history of michael and joseph chernow, the founders of the company. The first costume jewelry may have been made more than 300 years ago, but many people started wearing antique and costume jewelry during the art nouveau period.
Defining 20th century costume jewelry, by melinda lewis with henry swen. Before albert weiss founded his own costume jewelry company in 1942, he learned the tricks of the trade as a designer for coro in the 1930s. Many of these pieces can be found in the book titled, the napier co defining 20th century american costume jewelry. Vintage costume jewelry identification and value guide.
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