Kenneth J Lane Jewelry
1990s American Cuff Bracelets
Vermeil
Vintage 1960s American Drop Earrings
Gilt Metal
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Pearl
Vintage 1960s American Chandelier Earrings
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Link Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century American Modernist Brooches
Crystal, Gold Plate, Enamel
Late 20th Century American Modernist Brooches
Crystal, Pearl
Vintage 1960s American Dangle Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Dangle Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s American Chain Necklaces
Vintage 1980s American Modernist Brooches
Gold Plate
1990s American Necklace Enhancers
Late 20th Century American Modernist Multi-Strand Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Link Bracelets
Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century Collectible Jewelry
Plastic
Vintage 1980s American Clip-on Earrings
Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century American Modernist Dangle Earrings
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Art Deco Drop Earrings
Base Metal
Vintage 1980s German Baroque Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Chandelier Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Drop Necklaces
Base Metal
Vintage 1970s American Artist Cocktail Rings
Crystal, Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Artisan Fashion Rings
Citrine, Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Dangle Earrings
Gilt Metal
Antique 15th Century and Earlier American Drop Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Drop Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Enamel, Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Link Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1980s American Beaded Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Dangle Earrings
Gilt Metal
1990s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century American Dangle Earrings
Crystal, Rhodium
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century American Modernist Cuff Bracelets
Enamel
Vintage 1960s American Chandelier Earrings
Base Metal
Vintage 1970s American Anglo-Indian Bangles
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Byzantine Pendant Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Bangles
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1980s Contemporary Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American More Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Drop Necklaces
2010s American Clip-on Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American More Necklaces
Vintage 1960s Cocktail Rings
21st Century and Contemporary American More Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Chain Necklaces
Vintage 1980s Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Chain Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Early 2000s Unknown Cuff Bracelets
Vintage 1970s Link Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Drop Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Chain Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Vintage 1980s Chain Necklaces
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Kenneth J Lane Jewelry For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Kenneth J Lane Jewelry?
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.