Kenneth Jay Lane Gilded Gold Hardware with Enamel "Owls" Link Bracelet
About the Item
- Creator:
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1985
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU24718388022
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.
- Elegant Gilded Gold Hardware "Portrait" with Multi-Stone Chain BraceletLocated in New York, NYThis wonderfully elegant gilded gold vermeil hardware chain bracelet is accented with a detailed "portrait" encase with gilded gold hardware. The total length measures 9 inches, w...Category
Vintage 1980s American Baroque Charm Bracelets
- Delicately Detailed Sterling Silver with Black and Cream Enamel Overlay BraceletLocated in New York, NYWonderfully detailed sterling silver link bracelet with exquisite detailed black and cream baked enamel overlay. The total length measures 7 inches. width measures 3/8 of an inch. Ma...Category
Antique Early 1900s English Art Nouveau Link Bracelets
- Delicate Sterling Silver With Floral Enamel Link BraceletLocated in New York, NYThis delicate sterling silver link bracelet is detailed with multi-color floral enamel in shades of blues and greens. The length measures 6 1/2 inches. Width is 3/8 inch. On the opening clasp is etched with maker's mark. Made in Thailand.Category
Vintage 1980s Thai Artisan Charm Bracelets
- Delicately Whimsical Sterling Silver Charm BraceletLocated in New York, NYThis wonderfully delicate yet whimsically sterling silver charm bracelet measures 7 1/2 inches in total length. Each charm has the 'maker's mar...Category
Vintage 1980s American Artisan Bangles
- Etched Gold Vermeil Hardware with Multi-Size Emerald-Green Inlay Accent BraceletLocated in New York, NYThis wonderfully detailed costume etched vermeil gold hardware bracelet, has multi-sized emerald-green accented with iridescent inlay scatt...Category
Vintage 1970s Unknown Baroque Retro Bracelets
- Signed Trifari silver braceletBy TrifariLocated in New York, NYTrifari silver-toned, highly polished "leaf" bracelet is signed on the clasp's closing. The bracelet measures 7 1/4" in length, 5/8" in width.Category
Vintage 1940s Link Bracelets
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Rebecca Li Crystal Link Bracelet, 18 Karat Gold with Rose QuartzBy REBECCA LILocated in Valencia, CARebecca Li designs Mindfulness. This minimum contemporary bracelet is from her Crystal Links Collection. Inspired by sacred geometry, it's designed to let...Category
2010s American Contemporary Link Bracelets
MaterialsCrystal, Quartz, Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
- Rebecca Li Crystal Link Bracelet, 18 Karat Rose Gold with Blue Topaz and CrystalBy REBECCA LILocated in Valencia, CARebecca Li designs Mindfulness. This minimum bracelet is from her Crystal Links Collection. Inspired by sacred geometry, it's designed to help us remember the mystical nature of ou...Category
2010s American Modernist Charm Bracelets
MaterialsBlue Topaz, Crystal, Topaz, Rock Crystal, Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
- Rebecca Li Crystal Link Bracelet, 18 Karat Gold with Smoky Quartz and CrystalBy REBECCA LILocated in Valencia, CARebecca Li designs Mindfulness. This minimum bracelet is from her Crystal Links Collection. Inspired by sacred geometry, it's designed to help us remember our power within. Magic ...Category
2010s American Modernist Charm Bracelets
MaterialsQuartz, Crystal, Topaz, Rock Crystal, Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
- Rebecca Li Crystal Link Bracelet, 18 Karat Gold with Rock CrystalBy REBECCA LILocated in Valencia, CARebecca Li designs Mindfulness. This minimum contemporary bracelet is from her Crystal Links Collection. Inspired by sacred geometry, it's designed to let...Category
2010s American Modern Link Bracelets
MaterialsCrystal, Quartz, Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
- Mid-Century Yellow Gold Bracelet with an Articulated Double Sided Gem Heart CharLocated in Wheaton, ILVintage Mid Century 18KT yellow gold flexible bracelet fancy link with a brushed finish 14kt yellow gold articulated double-sided heart charm with one s...Category
Mid-20th Century Charm Bracelets
MaterialsRuby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Coomi 20K Antique Coin Bracelet with DiamondBy CoomiLocated in Secaucus, NJHand made Coomi bracelet set in 20K yellow gold with two Indo-Greek ancient coins at center and clasp, ladder design band, and 0.67cts brilliant and flat diamond accents. Bracelet m...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Thai Artisan Link Bracelets
MaterialsWhite Diamond, Yellow Gold, Bronze