Kenneth Jay Lane 1990s Gold Plated Lions Head Doorknocker Link Chain Necklace
View Similar Items
Kenneth Jay Lane 1990s Gold Plated Lions Head Doorknocker Link Chain Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Unknown
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU85535227871
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.
- Silver Swirl Hand Forged Link Chain Necklace circa 1970sLocated in London, GBWonderful silver swirl design link chain necklace, with a toggle clasp. There are no hallmarks, but the necklace tests as silver. Length 54cms / 21.26 inches. The workmanship of this hand forged and soldered necklace is of very high quality. This is a beautiful and unusual vintage silver chain necklace...Category
Vintage 1970s Chain Necklaces
MaterialsSilver
- Askew London Gold Plated Lion NecklaceBy Askew LondonLocated in London, GBFabulous Askew London antiqued gold plated necklace featuring two lion heads with filigree backs joined together by punched link chain. The back has pip link chain with a lovely bee and flower clasp. Measuring necklace length 52.5 cm / 20.6 inches. This is an unusual and wonderfully stylish piece by British jewellery...Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Chain Necklaces
MaterialsGold Plate
- Monet Gold Plated Curb and Ball Link Chain Collar Necklace circa 1980sBy MonetLocated in London, GBMonet fabulous 22ct triple gold plated curb and ball link chain necklace. Measuring length approximately 50.8 cm / 20 inches by width 3.7 cm / 1.45 inch. The necklace is in very goo...Category
Vintage 1980s American Chain Necklaces
MaterialsGold Plate
- Art Deco Platinon Harlequin Crystal Link Necklace circa 1920sLocated in London, GBBeautiful Art Deco Platinon harlequin crystal link necklace. The faceted crystals are raised at the front and pointed at the back, for maximum sparkle. Length 40.5cm / 15.9 inches b...Category
Vintage 1920s English Art Deco Link Necklaces
- Art Deco Theodor Fahrner Sterling Silver Gilt Marcasite Cultured Pearl NecklaceBy Theodor FahrnerLocated in London, GBSuperb Art Deco Theodor Fahrner sterling silver gilt textured necklace, designed with five beautiful links embellished with marcasites and cream cultured pearls, and a rectangular li...Category
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Link Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl, Marcasite, Sterling Silver
- Gold Tone Blue Tear Drop Necklace circa 1950sLocated in London, GBFabulous gold tone and blue tear drop necklace, featuring seven tear drops. The large tear drops each measure length 2.5cm / .98 inch. The necklace ...Category
Vintage 1950s Link Necklaces
- 7.34 Carat Emerald & Diamond Chain Necklace in 18k White GoldBy GEM PLAZALocated in Jaipur, Rajasthan7.34 Carat Emerald & Diamond Chain Necklace in 18k White Gold White Gold studded with mix cut Emerald pieces. Accessorize your look with this elegant Clear Emerald chain necklace. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modernist Chain Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Goldtone and Silvertone Disk and Chain NecklaceLocated in Stamford, CTGood looking brass disk and silver chain necklace.Category
Vintage 1960s Unknown Chain Necklaces
- Emerald and Diamond Vintage "Cuban Link" Necklace in 18k Yellow GoldLocated in Wailea, HIEmerald and Diamond Vintage "Cuban Link" Necklace in 18k Yellow Gold 3 Cabochon Emeralds Weighing 5.00 carats approximately 78 Round Diamonds Weighing .80 carats approximately 16...Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Chain Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 18K Yellow Gold 85 Carat Oval Diamond Link Chain NecklaceLocated in New York, NYAn 18k yellow gold long chain of oval textured linking, decorated with round brilliant-cut diamonds of approx. 85 carats. Diamond Quality: F-G color, VS-SI clarity. The necklace is ...Category
20th Century American Modern Chain Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$102,000 Sale Price20% Off - 18K Rose Gold Shell Slice with Diamond Chain NecklaceLocated in Central, HKA beautiful oval shell slice with double-sided oval shape with pave diamonds setting long necklace. Totalling 19 pieces of shells, weighing 23.12 carats, 80 pieces of round brillant-...Category
2010s Hong Kong Modern Chain Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Rose Gold
- Necklace in Platinum with 29 Paraiba Tourmaline Cabouchons and 46 DiamondsBy Thomas LeyserLocated in Idar-Oberstein, DEThis 950/ Platinum (99.15g) Collier is set with 29 fine Paraiba Tourmalines Cabouchons, various shapes, 49.23ct + 46x Diamonds (Brilliant-cut, D/VS, roun...Category
2010s German Contemporary Link Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Tourmaline, Paraiba, Platinum