Art Deco Vintage “Ciner” Clip on Earrings, Black and Coral Enamel
View Similar Items
Art Deco Vintage “Ciner” Clip on Earrings, Black and Coral Enamel
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1980
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2640218561442
Ciner
What defines “fine” jewelry? For many aficionados, there’s a clear line separating the golden wheat from the gilded chaff. But the handcrafted pieces made by Ciner, a 128-year-old costume jewelry house with a glittering past to rival some of the hautest high jewelers, call into question our notions of what constitutes preciousness.
Quality? Craftsmanship? Painstaking detail? Vintage Ciner earrings, brooches, necklaces and other accessories have them all in spades.
Much of the Ciner’s allure can be traced to its origins in fine jewelry. Emanuel Ciner, an Austrian immigrant, founded the firm in Manhattan in 1892, crafting pieces from the traditional precious gems, gold and platinum. But World War I and the Great Depression caused purse strings to tighten and materials to become scarce. Rather than try to weather the economic downturn, which shuttered many other American jewelers, Ciner made the risky transition from fine jewelry to costume (or fashion) jewelry — virtually uncharted territory.
Emanuel Ciner’s sons, Irwin and Charles, introduced an array of innovations — rubber casting molds, which are especially durable and produce higher quality results, and white metal alloys, which affordably mimic the look of more precious materials — that would become the standard for costume jewelry. During World War II, Ciner’s advanced molding technology was utilized by the U.S. military to produce munitions and tools. This arrangement gave the firm access to the heavily rationed metals it needed for its jewels, enabling it again to endure conditions that drove others into bankruptcy.
The company hit its stride in the 1960s, when its jewelry was sold at some of the country’s toniest stores, even garnering an Andy Warhol–illustrated ad for Bonwit Teller. Its pieces were worn by the era’s brightest stars. In the famous 1957 Joe Shere photo of Sophia Loren sneering at Jayne Mansfield’s décolletage, Mansfield is resplendent in shoulder-grazing Ciner earrings.
Ciner is unique among costume jewelers in that its pieces aren’t imitations — they are coveted in their own right. Elizabeth Taylor, a voracious jewelry collector with a taste for the very finest, was a longtime client. Several suites of Ciner jewels were included in the 2011 Christie’s sale of Taylor’s collection, with one group of rhinestone-studded ear clips and a bracelet fetching $15,600 — more than 100 times the auction estimate. It’s a reminder of a time, not so long ago, when women of great style wore fine and costume jewelry with equal aplomb, often at the same time.
Today, Ciner — now run by Emanuel Ciner’s granddaughter Pat Ciner Hill and great-granddaughter Jean Hill — continues to adhere to the same exacting production specifications. It is the only jewelry house in New York, and likely the United States, that manufactures all its pieces entirely in-house. Each begins with dozens of elements that are cast in rubber molds and then individually filed and polished, plated in a particularly thick layer of 18-karat gold or rhodium, assembled on the bench and painted with enamel or set with stones. Every step is performed by hand by craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company for more than 30 years.
Find vintage Ciner clip-on earrings, choker necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
- Bochic “IndoChina” Oriental Vintage Silver & Enamel Blue Bell EarringsLocated in New York, NYBochic “IndoChina” Oriental Vintage Silver & Enamel Green Bell Earrings The earrings from the "Indochina" collection are the epitome of elegance and versatility. They offer a perfe...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Anglo-Indian Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsSilver, Enamel
- Bochic “Capri” Ruby & Sapphire Clip On Earrings Set In 18K Gold & SilverLocated in New York, NYBochic “Capri” Ruby & Sapphire Clip On Earrings Set In 18K Gold & Silver Natural Red Ruby Square Cabochons - 14 Carats Natural Blue Sapphires Square Cabochons -12 Carats Natural ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsRuby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
- Bochic “Capri” Multi Color Sapphire Clip on Earrings Set In 18K Gold & SilverLocated in New York, NYBochic “Capri” Multi Color Sapphire Clip on Earrings Set In 18K Gold & Silver Multi color round brilliant sapphires - 9 Carats Colors: Green, Yellow, Blue, Pink, Orange, Rose Roun...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Revival Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsSapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold,...
- Bochic “Orient” Cluster Diamond & Mint Jade Stud Clip On EarringsLocated in New York, NYBochic “Orient” Cluster Diamond & Mint Jade Earrings Mint Jade Cabochons Diamonds 0.46 Carat Color F Clarity VS 3.48 Gram Elegant, Classic and Chic The cluster Earrings is an e...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Baroque Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Jade, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Bochic “Capri” Ruby & Tanzanite Clip on Earrings Set in 22k Gold & SilverLocated in New York, NYBochic “Capri” Ruby & Tanzanite Clip on Earrings set in 22K Gold & Silver Beautiful Natural Red cabochon Rubies - 19 carats Natural Purple Color Tanzanite - 9 carats Round brillia...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsRuby, Tanzanite, 22k Gold, Silver
- Bochic “Orient” Ruby, Coral & Multi Sapphire Earrings Set In 18K & SilverLocated in New York, NYBochic “Orient” Ruby, Coral & Multi Sapphire Earrings Set In 18K & Silver Natural Rubies - 2 carats Multi color Sapphires - 1 carat Salmon coral The earrings from the "Orient" ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Revival Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsYellow Sapphire, Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire,...
- Vintage Ciner hemisphere coral bead clip-on earrings, 1980sBy CinerLocated in New York, NYVintage hemisphere clip-on earrings in gold tone setting by Ciner. Decorated with coral matte cabochons. Signed. Period: 1980s Diameter: 3cm Condition: Very good. Light scratches th...Category
Vintage 1980s American Art Nouveau Clip-on Earrings
- Ciner Enameled Clip on Earrings New, Never Worn 1980sBy CinerLocated in Wallkill, NYA Pair of enameled CINER earrings. These match the Giraffe Beaded Ciner necklace that is listed as well. They measure 1.48 top to bottom x .78 at the Widest Point. This is out of a ...Category
Vintage 1980s American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsEnamel
- Antique Vintage Ciner Clip-On Orange Glass EarringsBy CinerLocated in Jacksonville, FLEarring Diameter: 1.32″ Bin Code: E19 / P2 Step into the past with these Antique Vintage Ciner Clip-On Orange Glass Earrings. Crafted with intricate detailing, these earrings exude...Category
20th Century American Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
- Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Crystals Black Enamel Leaf Gold Clip On EarringsBy Christian DiorLocated in Wokingham, EnglandRenowned for its timeless elegant designs, Christian Dior presents this earrings. Crafted from polished gold plated brass, the piece is adorned with dazzling Swarovski crystal embell...Category
Vintage 1980s German Baroque Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGold Plate, Enamel
- Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Cube Crystals Black Enamel Gold Clip On EarringsBy Christian DiorLocated in Wokingham, EnglandRenowned for its timeless elegant designs, Christian Dior presents this earrings. Crafted from polished gold plated brass, the piece is adorned with dazzling Swarovski crystal embell...Category
Vintage 1980s German Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGold Plate, Enamel
- Signed Ciner Black Cabochon Glass Floral Clip on EarringBy CinerLocated in Jacksonville, FLEarring Length: 1.33″ Bin Code: E5 / P2 Enhance your elegance and grace with these Vintage Signed Ciner Black Cabochon Glass Flower Shape Earrings. Crafted with exquisite attention...Category
20th Century American Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Lifestyle Doyenne Carolyne Roehm Teams Up with Famed Costume Jeweler Ciner
Together, the designer and tastemaker and the 128-year-old company have created a nature-inspired collection whose proceeds will benefit animal shelters.
How Do You Wear a Cocktail Ring?
David Joseph, jewelry designer and founder of Bochic in New York, tells us how to style these dazzling Jazz Age accessories in post-Prohibition times.