Kenneth J Lane Pins
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gold Plate
1990s American Necklace Enhancers
Late 20th Century American Modernist Brooches
Crystal, Gold Plate, Enamel
Late 20th Century American Modernist Brooches
Crystal, Pearl
Vintage 1980s American Modernist Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s Contemporary Choker Necklaces
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1970s American Artist Cocktail Rings
Crystal, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Brooches
Emerald, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s Unknown Modern Brooches
Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches
Late 20th Century American Modernist Brooches
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, White Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1980s French Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Artisan Cocktail Rings
Gilt Metal
20th Century Retro Brooches
Crystal, Gold Plate
20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1970s Unknown Modernist Cluster Rings
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Onyx, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yellow Gold, 18k G...
Vintage 1960s American Modern Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Modern Brooches
Vintage 1980s French Modernist Cocktail Rings
Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Brooches
Crystal
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Brass, Gilt Metal
Vintage 1970s American Drop Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gold Plate
Late 20th Century American Brooches
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Bangles
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s American Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Brooches
Vintage 1950s American Link Bracelets
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s More Jewelry
Vintage 1960s American Modernist Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s American Modernist Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
American Brooches
1990s More Furniture and Collectibles
Crystal, Enamel, Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Kenneth J Lane Pins For Sale on 1stDibs
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Kenneth Jay Lane for sale on 1stDibs
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.