Kenneth Jay Lane Snake
1990s Bangles
Vintage 1980s American Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Vintage 1980s American Artisan Necklace Enhancers
1960s American Scarves
1990s American Cuff Bracelets
Crystal, 22k Gold, Gold Plate
20th Century Cocktail Rings
Gilt Metal
People Also Browsed
1990s Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Charm Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
1990s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Mexican Modernist Cufflinks
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Vintage 1960s American Retro Choker Necklaces
Crystal, Jasper, Base Metal
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Anglo-Indian Bangles
Gilt Metal
20th Century French Link Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century American Vanity Items
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Base Metal
Vintage 1950s Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s French Chain Necklaces
Vintage 1980s German Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary American Clamper Bracelets
Crystal, Other
Vintage 1960s American More Rings
Vintage 1970s Bangles
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1970s American Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Cuff Bracelets
Crystal, 22k Gold, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
American Clamper Bracelets
2010s American Modern Brooches
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Modernist Cuff Bracelets
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s American Cocktail Rings
21st Century and Contemporary American Cuff Bracelets
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary American Clip-on Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century American Modernist Brooches
Turquoise, Gold Plate, Gilt Metal
Vintage 1970s American Chain Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century American Retro Bracelets
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
2010s American Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
Late 20th Century American Collectible Jewelry
Metal
Early 2000s American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Clamper Bracelets
Vintage 1980s American Clamper Bracelets
Enamel
Kenneth Jay Lane for sale on 1stDibs
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.