Kenneth Jay Lane Early Twisted Gold Crest
About the Item
Excellent condition.
3 x 3"
Signed: K.J.L
- Creator:
- Place of Origin:United States
- Period:1960-1969
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Excellent.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: AU10091346483
Kenneth Jay Lane
The father of so-called “fabulous fakes,” Kenneth Jay Lane was a spirited innovator within the jewelry industry, designing elegant and luxurious pieces without the use of real jewels. And while Lane aspired to create classic designs for earrings, bracelets and necklaces intended for everyday wear, his pieces caught the attention of celebrities, royalty and socialites.
From a young age, the Detroit, Michigan-born Lane was a lover of fashion. He studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Michigan. He pursued a design career in New York City, and a failed start in the art department of Vogue magazine led to a decade of designing shoes for the likes of Delman and Christian Dior.
Lane would occasionally develop shoe designs for friends he had in the fashion world such as Bill Blass and Arnold Scaasi. A show for the latter afforded him the opportunity to beautify shoes with rhinestones and create bangles and earrings to pair with the footwear — he found plastic bracelets at discount variety store and had them embellished by craftspeople at a shoe factory.
A love for costume jewelry design emerged thereafter. Lane created his own collection and admirers such as Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor showered him with praise. A pearl necklace he designed was worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In the early 1960s, ready-to-wear pioneer Hattie Carnegie purchased Lane’s jewelry line. Lane was given the position of design director for Carnegie but he soon changed course, moving instead into a small studio and pursuing his own path.
Lane worked with milk glass, gilded silver hardware, faux coral and other materials, and sold pendant necklaces, dangle earrings and modern bracelets to private customers. He was fond of renowned fine jewelry houses Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels and designers such as Jean Schlumberger, and cited having found inspiration in Egyptian and Indian jewelry over the years as well as Art Deco jewelry. Lane’s designs, which he called “faque” and “junque,” became well-known for their distinctive color combinations and clever characteristics such as embroidery. By the time he purchased a small jewelry factory in Providence, Rhode Island, where his accessories would be made during the 1960s, Lane had secured relationships with top Manhattan boutiques and his work had caught the attention of fashion magazines.
Directed by the filmmaker Gisèle Roman, a 2018 documentary about Lane’s life and work called Fabulously Fake: The Real Life of Kenneth Jay Lane features interviews with legendary fashion designers Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Kenneth Jay Lane brooches, rings and other accessories.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Line Vautrin "La Manif" Gilt Bronze BroochBy Line VautrinLocated in New York, NYGilt brooch by Line Vautrin (1913-1997), circa 1945-46. The design is known as ...Category
Vintage 1950s French Artisan Brooches
MaterialsBronze, Gilt Metal, Gold Plate, Brass
- Mexican Sterling Gazelle BroochLocated in New York, NYQuality Mexican Sterling Gazelle Brooch from the 1940's. Unknown maker of high quality with Deco overtones. Most Mexican jewelry of the period is hol...Category
Vintage 1940s Mexican Art Deco Brooches
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Trifari Retro Cowboy BroochBy TrifariLocated in New York, NYCharming Trifari Retro Cowboy brooch from the 1950's. Dancing figure in pinkish gold plate with pave crystal decoration. 2.25" x 1.25". 1950's USA.Category
Vintage 1950s American Retro Brooches
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Rare Mazer, Joseph Wuyts Whispering Angel Jabot PinBy MazerLocated in New York, NYRare Mazer, Joseph Wuyts Whispering Angel Jabot Pin from 1940's USA of gilt metal with pave accents. Rare collectable series from Mazer. 3.5" x .5".Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Brooches
MaterialsGilt Metal
- French Ribbed Gold Circle BroochLocated in New York, NYElegant French Ribbed Gold Circle Brooch from the 1950's set with semiprecious stones such as amythest, garnet, tourmaline and blue zircon. 1.25". 1950's France.Category
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
MaterialsAmethyst, Garnet, Tourmaline, Blue Zircon, Gold, 18k Gold
- Salvador Dali Aphrodite Tie PinBy Salvador DalíLocated in New York, NYParfums Salvador Dali Aphrodite tie pin created for the release of Salvador Dali's "Salvador Dali" perfume. The now-iconic pendant form was model...Category
Vintage 1980s American Artisan Brooches
MaterialsGold Plate, Base Metal, Brass, Gilt Metal, Steel
- Vintage Diamond BroochLocated in New York, NYCommand attention in this exquisite diamond brooch from the Jewels Aficionado antique collection. Outfitted with a whopping 20.40 carats of diamonds set in platinum, the brooch mixes...Category
Vintage 1960s Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Vintage Aquamarine and Diamond Flower Head BroochLocated in London, GBA vintage aquamarine and diamond flower head brooch, the brooch with round brilliant-cut diamond set domed centre surrounded by four heart sh...Category
Vintage 1950s Modern Brooches
MaterialsAquamarine, Diamond
- Georgian Diamond Brooch in Silver, circa 1750Located in London, GBGeorgian diamond brooch in silver. Set with twenty one cushion shape table cut diamonds in closed back cut down settings with an approximate com...Category
Antique 1750s Georgian Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Silver
- Art deco diamond brooch, French, circa 1920.Located in London, GBArt deco diamond brooch. Set to centre with one round old cut diamond in an open back rubover setting with an approximate weight of 0.85 carats, surrounded by 45 round old cut diamon...Category
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Georgian Ruby and Emerald Mandolin Brooch/Pendant Locket, circa 1830Located in London, GBGeorgian ruby and emerald mandolin brooch/pendant locket. A yellow, rose and green gold brooch/pendant in the form of a mandolin, a symbol of harmony i...Category
Antique 1830s Georgian Brooches
MaterialsEmerald, Ruby, Gold
- Made in France Diamond and Ruby Detachable Brooch – Circa 1860’sLocated in Jacksonville, FLThis item is an antique 19th-century diamond crescent moon brooch with a detachable spray of rubies and diamonds. It is made in France, circa 1860. The brooch features an elegant dou...Category
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Ruby