Kenneth Jay Lane's Snail brooch
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:Gilt Metal
- Dimensions:Height: 1.5 in (38.1 mm)Width: 1.75 in (44.45 mm)Length: 3 in (76.2 mm)
- Place of Origin:United States
- Period:1960-1969
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU46782892
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.
- French Bulldog Dress CilpLocated in New York, NYFrench Bulldog dress clip of hand carved , tinted and stained bakelite . Further detailed by glass taxidermy eyes . Fitted with a brass dress clip ...Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Brooches
- Arts and Crafts Gecko FobLocated in New York, NYArts and Crafts unusual gecko fob from the early 20th Century. Charming men's fob with a "trapped" gecko motif in the Arts and Crafts Style. Art glass cabochons are set into the body...Category
Vintage 1910s American Arts and Crafts Brooches
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Miriam Haskell Looping Bow BroochBy Miriam HaskellLocated in New York, NYMiriam Haskell's looping bow circle brooch of signature Russian gilt and hand sewn crystal rose montes and seed pearls. 1940's USA. Excellent condition. L1.75" W1.75"Category
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Rebajes Sterling Modernist Bird BroochBy RebajesLocated in New York, NYRebajes Sterling Modernist Bird Brooch made from a single sheet of sterling metal. The wing is cut in one and folded down over body and is then further ...Category
Vintage 1940s American Modernist Brooches
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Valentino Large Jet and Pave LizardBy ValentinoLocated in New York, NYLarge jet and pave set lizard by Valentino, Italy. Beautifully detailed work with pave crystal accents set onto an black enamel and antique pewter metal finished base. There are se...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Brooches
- Ruby and Emerald Baguette French Clip BroochLocated in New York, NYLarge scale bombe faux ruby and faux emerald baguette dress clip brooch, 1950s. Baguettes are set in layers for dimension. Possibly by Roger Jean Pierre. Length 2.75", W 2.50". Fra...Category
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Ladybug-Shaped Pendant and Brooch with Enamel of Various ColorsLocated in Rome, ITThe pendant in the shape of a ladybug with open wings, can be worn both as a pendant and as a brooch. The ladybug is decorated with transparent enamels of various colors. Its manufa...Category
Antique 19th Century Retro Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsEnamel
- Otto Strandman Art Nouveau 1914 Bacchus Silver Brooch, Stockholm SwedenLocated in Skanninge, SEBacchus the wine god by Otto Strandman (1871-1960), Stockholm 1914. Wonderful Swedish Art Nouveau silver brooch. Great condition, no issues. With full s...Category
Vintage 1910s Swedish Art Nouveau Brooches
MaterialsSilver
- Atelier Borgila Stockholm 1944, Modernist Brooch in Gilt Sterling SilverBy Atelier BorgilaLocated in Skanninge, SEVery nice modernist brooch depicting a bird in flight. Gilded sterling silver with maker marks. Fine vintage condition, only some minor scratches. Atelier Borgila was founded by de...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Modernist Brooches
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Harald Nielsen for Georg Jensen Denmark BroochBy Harald NielsenLocated in Skanninge, SEA fine brooch by Harald Nielsen for Georg Jensen. Made during world war II. It is made in silver and patinated steel. This was something they did because of the war. Marked "HN GEOR...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Modernist Brooches
MaterialsSterling Silver, Stainless Steel
- Matti J Hyvarinen a Set of Necklace, Earrings and a Brooch, Sterling, FinlandBy Matti J. HyvärinenLocated in Skanninge, SEA set of necklace, a pair of earrings, and a Brooch in sterling silver by Matti J Hyvarinen Finland. All parts marked "MJH 925". Made in the 1970s. V...Category
Vintage 1970s Finnish Modernist Brooches
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Erik Fleming for Borgila 18k Gold Brooch, Stockholm Sweden, 1944By Atelier BorgilaLocated in Skanninge, SEWonderful 18k gold brooch depicting a flower. Made by Erik Fleming (1894-1954) for Borgila. 18k gold together with one pearl. Great condition, no issues. Diameter 4.5cm (in 1.78)Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Modernist Brooches
Materials18k Gold