Vintage Kurt Wayne Emerald 18karat Yellow Gold Frog Brooch Pin
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:18k Gold,Yellow Gold
- Stone:Emerald
- Stone Cut:Emerald Cut
- Dimensions:Width: 1.5 in (38.1 mm)Length: 2 in (50.8 mm)
- Place of Origin:United States
- Period:Early 20th Century
- Date of Manufacture:1969
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:Seller: 11394021stDibs: LU41219602532
Kurt Wayne
Kurt Wayne brought an optimistic and playful style to the art of making jewelry. Celebrated by those in the know for his alluring, offbeat creations that feature south sea pearls, emeralds and more, Wayne strayed from conventional jewelry design of the time, making such bold decisions as setting a square-cut diamond in the center of a polished orb of black onyx. The Austrian-born designer produced lively pendants, rings and brooches made to resemble frogs, canaries and owls, and with radiant starbursts and clustered stones, Wayne's style was meant to bedazzle as much as it was to stoke the imagination.
Not much is known about the life of Kurt Wayne. He is believed to have been born in 1909, in Vienna, and was reportedly fostered by a jeweler at the age of ten. Under the jeweler's tutelage, Wayne learned about watchmaking and how to work with gold, silver and precious stones.
At the time, the whiplash lines, vibrant materials and dramatic imagery that had characterized the Art Nouveau style — cemented in Viennese culture by artists such as those in the Wiener Werkstätte collective and others working in the Jugendstil style in Germany and Austria — had given way to Art Deco’s geometric diamond brooches and long pearl necklaces.
In 1937, Wayne emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. He is said to have established his own business in 1945 and found great success in making jewelry. Throughout his career, he developed close ties to the Zale family of Zale jewelers and with Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus.
Wayne created imaginative modernist cocktail rings and other accessories during the 1970s and 1980s that are still widely collected today.
Find vintage Kurt Wayne necklaces, earrings and bracelets on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Miami, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
More From This Seller
View AllVintage 1980s Retro Brooches
Emerald, Yellow Gold
1990s American Retro Brooches
Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1950s Italian Brooches
Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Brooches
Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Gold
Vintage 1960s Retro Brooches
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
You May Also Like
Vintage 1970s American Retro Brooches
Ruby, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Brooches
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Enamel