Kenneth Jay Lane Double Strand Turquoise and Vermeil Gold Tone Necklace
View Similar Items
Kenneth Jay Lane Double Strand Turquoise and Vermeil Gold Tone Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2471270253
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.
- Yves Saint Laurent Coral Lucite with Gold Hardware Silk Cord NecklaceBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in New York, NYYves Saint Laurent wonderful coral lucite accented with gold hardware on silk cord necklace measures 48" in total length and 1" i...Category
Vintage 1980s French Beaded Necklaces
- Multi-Color Moveable Enamel Japanese "Carp" with Silver NecklaceLocated in New York, NYThe wonderful multi-colors of greens accented with blue, red and yellow enamel detailed in this moveable enamel Japanese "Carp" is finish...Category
Vintage 1970s Unknown Beaded Necklaces
- Kenneth Jay Lane Gold Hardware "Double-Ram Heads" Double-Strand NecklaceBy Kenneth Jay LaneLocated in New York, NYKenneth Jay Lane wonderfully detailed gilded gold vermeil hardware "Double Rams Head" clasp accented with faux micro emeralds and diamonds paired with double strands of faux o...Category
Vintage 1980s American Baroque Beaded Necklaces
- Triple-Strand Pearls with Semi-Precious Stones And Gold Hardware NecklaceLocated in New York, NYWonderfully elegant triple-strand freshwater pearls accented with semi-precious stones and highlighted with micro gold hardware necklace measures 34 inches in total. The clasp is of ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Baroque Multi-Strand Necklaces
- Hand--Strung Pearl Necklace and Bracelet SetLocated in New York, NYSet of hand-strung pearl necklace with matching bracelet set has adjustable options to widen if desire. Just gently pull the hand...Category
1990s Mexican Artisan Beaded Necklaces
- Marvella Elegantly Hand-Knotted Pearl with Polished Gold Hardware Clasp NecklaceLocated in New York, NYMarvella wonderfully elegant hand-knotted pearl with polished gold hardware clasp closing measures 54 inches in total length. The circumference of the pear...Category
Vintage 1980s French Baroque Drop Necklaces
- Cream Keshi Pearl Necklace with Yellow Gold Plated Magnetic Ball ClaspLocated in Armadale, VictoriaSingle Graduated Strand Cream Keshi Pearl Necklace on yellow gold plated magnetic ball clasp. These beautiful Keshi pearls have a lovely high quality lustre. The strand graduates fro...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsSouth Sea Pearl, Gold Plate
- Antique Necklace Made of Coral Beads Angel SkinLocated in Berlin, DEAntique necklace made of coral beads angel skin White to pale pink are the colours of the pearls of this graceful coral necklace. The beads are synchronous and finely cut. The time ...Category
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsCoral, Silver
- Keshi pearl necklace with toggleBy Cyntia MiglioLocated in Toronto, OntarioIntroducing the Hera necklace: a modern interpretation of the classic pearl necklace. Expertly handcrafted with luxurious silk threads and exquisite Keshi pearls. The striking clasp ...Category
2010s Canadian Modern Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
- Pearl Necklace with 3 Diamond and Enamel Pendants in 18k GoldBy Jay RawatLocated in Jaipur, INA beautiful pearl necklace with 3 pendants with enamel work and diamonds. It's a clssic necklace suitable for all occasions. The Pendants are all handmade with traditional Indian Ena...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
- Antique Amber NecklaceLocated in Tel Aviv, ILAntique Amber Necklace Gorgeous Amber necklace with stunning bright colors of orange, red, brown and yellow. The necklace was made in Russia i...Category
Antique 1890s Russian Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsAmber
- Necklace 18 Karat Gold Rubellite Natural Pearl Diamonds Enamel Vicente GraciaBy Vicente Gracia Art JewelleryLocated in Valencia, ESNecklace 18 Karat Gold Rubellite Natural Pearl Diamonds Enamel Necklace in 18k yellow gold, natural pearls, reconstituted rubellites engraved with Arabic calligraphy glyptic and ant...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Natural Pearl, Rubelite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel