Early Kenneth Jay Lane Pave Acorn Cuff
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Dimensions:Width: 2 in (50.8 mm)Length: 7 in (177.8 mm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4616700132
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: Riverdale, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Czech Arts and Crafts BraceletLocated in New York, NYArt Deco bracelet made in the Arts and Crafts style in antique silvered metal with large oval pink crystals. An amalgam of the hammered lines of t...Category
Vintage 1930s Czech Link Bracelets
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Deco Fish Bubble Bracelet, N.E. From, DenmarkLocated in New York, NYCharming Deco-Retro sterling bracelet with fish and star motifs, hand made and assembled by N.E. From, Denmark. Each fish motif surrounds a blue glass cabochon "bubble. 1940's Denmar...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Link Bracelets
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Edwardian Paste Flowerhead BraceletLocated in New York, NYLovely paste set articulated flower link bracelet from the early 20th Century set in sterling silver. Paste stones have patinaed to a soft glow. Excellent condition, 1900 USA. 7....Category
Early 20th Century Edwardian Link Bracelets
MaterialsSterling Silver
- French Revivalist Link BraceletLocated in New York, NYFrench gilt repousse link bracelet with faux topaz and faux jet cabochons. Antique green gold finish. Circa 1930 France. Excellent condition.Category
Vintage 1930s French Link Bracelets
- Trifari Fruit Salad Sapphire Link BraceletBy Alfred Philippe for TrifariLocated in New York, NYRare and collectible Trifari Alfred Philippe nine link fruit salad bracelet of rhodium plated metal, crystal pave and molded glass fruit salad stones. Each link containing three frui...Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Link Bracelets
MaterialsRhodium, Base Metal
- Miriam Haskell Baroque Pearl Fob BraceletBy Miriam HaskellLocated in New York, NYMiriam Haskell faux baroque pearl fob bracelet. Composed of signature baroque pearl links with a large baroque pearl and Russian gilt filigrees. The danglin...Category
Vintage 1940s American Link Bracelets
MaterialsGold Plate, Gilt Metal
- Étoile Bracelet - 18ct gold plated silver with mixed blue topazBy Esther EyreLocated in London, GBStatement 18ct gold plated silver bracelet made of linked handcrafted stars with mixed blue topaz stones at their centre.Category
2010s British Contemporary Link Bracelets
MaterialsBlue Topaz, Gold Plate, Silver
- Repossi 1970’s Gold coins and Diamond BraceletBy RepossiLocated in Torino, ITAn extremely chic Bracelet composed of three 24K Yellow Gold coins set in an unusual articulated setting composed of five strands of 18K Gold chain. The three rich and warm tone Gold...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Link Bracelets
MaterialsDiamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold
- Mixed 18 Karat Gold Rectangular Link Brilliant Cut Diamond BraceletBy Malcolm BettsLocated in London, GB18ct yellow, white, and rose gold rectangular link bracelet with channel set brilliant cut diamond link 0.20cts total weight. Hand made in London by renowned British jeweller Malcolm Betts...Category
2010s British Contemporary Chain Bracelets
MaterialsDiamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
- French Belle Époque Cartier 40 Carat Old European Cut Diamond BraceletBy CartierLocated in Miami, FLFrom the House of Cartier, this exquisite Belle Epoque diamond bracelet, Circa 1915, is crafted in platinum and features 389 Old European cut diamonds weighing approximately 40.55 ca...Category
Vintage 1910s French Belle Époque Link Bracelets
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Henry Dankner 2.24 Carat Diamond 18K 2-Tone Gold Fancy Link BraceletBy Henry Dankner & SonsLocated in Goettingen, DEHenry Dankner 2.24 Carat Diamond 18K 2-Tone Gold Fancy Link Bracelet This sporty, elegant diamond bracelet from the 1980s was designed by the New York luxury jeweler Henry Dankner...Category
Late 20th Century American Link Bracelets
MaterialsDiamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
- Modernist 1.9 Carat Diamond Ruby and Emerald 18K Gold Bracelet Meran 1970Located in Goettingen, DEModernist 1.9 Carat Diamond Ruby and Emerald 18K Gold Bracelet Meran 1970 Decorative gold bracelet with multi colored gemstones in intrecate workmanship, the rectangular links with ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modernist Link Bracelets
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold