Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Schreiner NY 1950s 22 ProngSet Crystals AB & PiecrustSetPaleYellow Clip Earrings

About the Item

In 1956 when Christian Dior's ultra-feminine New Look had dominated fashion for nearly a decade, Schreiner New York handcrafted these opulent unsigned earrings with 22 prong-set open-back crystals to accompany the eveningwear of an American high-end fashion designer. They may have been for client Pauline Trigere when her ready-to-wear collections with accessories including unmarked-Schreiner jewelry were sold by NYC's Bergdorf Goodman and worn by her clients including Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Elizabeth Taylor. Comparatively, Schreiner jewelry produced in the 1950s for direct sale to high-end department stores, such as Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel and Saks Fifth Avenue, were the only pieces to include a brand signature. Using the best quality European crystals that were custom-made for him, the founder Henry Schreiner was among the world's leading glass-jewelry designers before he died in 1954, whereafter his daughter and her husband continued with their handcrafted production. The family shared this distinction with Western Germany-based Max Muller and Paris-based Roger Jean Pierre, who were commissioned to create haute-couture pieces for the world's leading fashion houses. Notably in 1949, Henry Schreiner was commissioned by Dior to create several exclusive pieces. We know these earrings were not created earlier than 1956 because of the use of iridescent coating on some of the crystals that produces a rainbow effect. Known as aurora-borealis (AB) stones, Swarovski initially produced them exclusively for a haute-couture collection that year by Dior. Shortly thereafter, the Schreiner team had access to such colorful stones, and most certainly used them as soon as possible to enable their American fashion-designer clients to compete with the new Dior iridescent-colors trend. At the bottom tips of the marquise-shaped pale yellow stones, notice the emergence of what became known as the Schreiner "piecrust" wavy setting. Also characteristic of many Schreiner pieces, the earring arrangement is highly varied in three dimensions for maximum sparkle and the clips have a circular void. Indicating that the crystals were exclusively made for Schreiner, most of them have a unique bi-color reflection of yellow and ecru. As our photos show the earrings from multiple sides, when worn on the ear the smallest rose-cut stones are positioned at the bottoms. Comparatively, they are priced higher than other post-1954 Schreiner earrings because they significantly date to the first year that AB stones were used in jewelry. Otherwise, we price these extravagant earrings lower than pieces handcrafted by the founder Henry Schreiner, which are more rare. Please see our other listings for his early work and other rarities of his peers.

More From This Seller

View All
MiriamHaskell WWII FrankHess Layered Rhodoid & Crystal Montee Climber Earrings
By Frank Hess for Miriam Haskell
Located in Chicago, IL
Beginning in 1939, American Miriam Haskell asked her first designer since 1926 Frank Hess to sparingly use metal in their costume-jewelry collections during WWII while war materials were needed. So not unlike the Spring/Summer 2024 floral appliques designed by Balmain artistic director Olivier Rousteing, hand-crafted rose-motif plastic never looked more beautiful in the 20th Century than such eye-catching glossy creations as these ballet-pink clip earrings by Hess. In this reflective and sparkling pair of lightweight slightly asymmetrical climbers, shiny film-like rhodoid is hand-cut, layered in three dimensions for irregular shadows, and riveted with clear roses-montees to a thin silver metal frame, which replaced Hess' characteristic wired Russian-gilt brass frame while still resembling his earlier construction (see our other Haskell listing for an early double fur-clip chain lariat). The earring clips, with tiny holes that were used for unsigned Haskell...
Category

Vintage 1940s American Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Crystal, Mixed Metal

Couture 1950s French Montague Wired GlassBeads CrystalEnameledRondelles Earrings
By Francoise Montague
Located in Chicago, IL
In the 1950s while he operated an eponymous Parisian couture costume-jewelry boutique, Francoise Montague designed these unique handmade ornate pair of sparkly clip earrings featurin...
Category

Vintage 1950s French Artisan Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Crystal, Enamel, Gilt Metal, Mixed Metal

ArtDeco 5BlackDiamond-FacetedSpinels 6BezelSetCognacDiamonds CastSilver Earrings
Located in Chicago, IL
Featuring five sparkly black opaque spinels with diamond-shaped facets and splintery vitreous surfaces, along with bezel-set champagne diamonds with yellow or peach reflections in su...
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Spinel, Black Spinel, Brown Diamond, Silver

Couture S/S1956 SignedDiorDesigner First AB Crystals Western Germany Earrings
By Christian Dior
Located in Chicago, IL
Distinguishing these couture Christian Dior Spring/Summer 1956 "Western Germany"-stamped silver earrings featuring the first Swarovski gold-foi...
Category

Vintage 1950s German Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Crystal, Silver, Base Metal

Couture 1950s WestGermany DiorDesigner Crystal DoubleTrimmed EmeraldCut Earrings
By Christian Dior Haute Couture
Located in Chicago, IL
While making similar Christian Dior haute-couture costume-jewelry since 1955, parurier Max Muller based near Kaufbeuren, Western Germany, created these exceptionally-clear crystal si...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Crystal, Silver, Gilt Metal

MiriamHaskell 1926-39 Enamel GiltFiligree Scallop BrassClip ArtDeco AquaEarrings
By Miriam Haskell
Located in Chicago, IL
During the Art-Deco period, Miriam Haskell and her first designer since 1926 Frank Hess created these blue-tone enameled scallop-edged Russian-gilt brass earrings with intricate wire...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Turquoise, Gold, Brass, Enamel, Gilt Metal, Yellow Gold

You May Also Like

GIA Report Certified Diamond Double Halo Pear Cut Stud Earrings, 18k white gold
Located in Jaipur, RJ
GIA Report Certified Diamond Double Halo Pear Cut Stud Earrings, 18k white gold Available in 18k white gold. Same design can be made also with other custom gemstones per request. ...
Category

2010s Indian Art Deco Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

GIA Report Certified Diamond Halo Oval Cut Stud Earrings for her, 18k white gold
Located in Jaipur, RJ
GIA Report Certified Diamond Halo Oval Cut Stud Earrings for her, 18k white gold Available in 18k white gold. Same design can be made also with other custom gemstones per request. ...
Category

2010s Indian Art Deco Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Rare Vintage Chanel 1980s Red, White, & Gold Tone CC Earrings 1.5 Inch Diameter
By Chanel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
These amazing vintage Chanel earrings are from the early 1980's and are extremely rare. The beautiful red and white resin material is in excellent condition. They measure a large 1 ...
Category

Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Gold Plate

Vintage Chanel Jumbo Black Leather and Gold Tone Earrings 1 13/16 inch
By Chanel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
These Vintage Chanel Jumbo Black Leather and Gold Tone earrings are for the lady who likes to make a big statement. They measure just under 1 7/8 inches in diameter. From the Chanel 29...
Category

1990s French Clip-on Earrings

Bakelite earrings from the 1920/30s
Located in Berlin, DE
Bakelite earrings from the 1920/30s Pair of earrings in bakelite and chrome with coral coloured elements; renewed clips Width: 5 cm Height: 1 cm De...
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Clip-on Earrings

Bakelite earrings from the 1920/30s
$260 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Free Shipping
Chanel Blue Gripoix Gold Clip On Earrings
By Chanel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chanel Blue Gripoix Gold Clip On Earrings- excellent condition Cobalt blue gripoix round stone in gold tone ribbed surround. Clip on style. 1983,...
Category

Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings

Recently Viewed

View All