Black Lucite Pear Brooch With Rhinestone Details By Kenneth Jay Lane, 1990s
About the Item
- Creator:
- Style:Modern
- Place of Origin:United States
- Period:1990-1999
- Date of Manufacture:1990s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:McKinney, TX
- Reference Number:
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: McKinney, TX
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Gilded Elephant Head Brooch With Mughal Jewels By Ciner, 1960sBy CinerLocated in McKinney, TX- Vintage item - Collectible jewelry piece from the mid-century - Extremely rare, hard to find style - 2.25" x 2" - Gold plated - Jewel tone Mughal style crystal rhinestones in ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Modern Brooches
- Gilded Leopard Figural Brooch By Gerry's, 1980sLocated in McKinney, TX- Vintage item - 2.4" x .75" - Gold plated - By Gerry's (signed on verso) - Circa 1980s - Estate acquired - Excellent vintage conditionCategory
Vintage 1980s American Modern Brooches
- Watermelon Rivoli Vitrail Crystal Golden Filigree Leaf Figural Brooch, 1950sLocated in McKinney, TX- Vintage item - Measures 2.75" wide - Gold tone - Watermelon Rivoli Vitrail special effect crystals with pink and red accent crystal rhinestones - Filigree detail - Circa 1950s...Category
Vintage 1950s Unknown Modern Brooches
- Jumbo Gilded Abstract Knot Brooch With Checker Texture By Celine, 1990sBy CelineLocated in McKinney, TX- Vintage item - 2" x 1.6" - Gold plated - Made in Paris, France - By Celine (signed on verso) - Circa 1990s - Estate acquired - Excellent vintage conditionCategory
1990s Unknown Modern Brooches
- Vintage Gilded Butterfly Figural Brooch with Crystals by Carolee, 1980sLocated in McKinney, TX- Vintage item - Measures 1.75" x 2" - Gold plated - Crystal rhinestone accents - Faux pearl accent - By Carolee (signed on verso) - Circa 1980s - Estate acquired - Excellent...Category
Vintage 1980s American Modern Brooches
- White Enamel Openwork Flower Figural Brooch By Monet, 1960sBy MonetLocated in McKinney, TX- Vintage item - Collectible costume jewelry piece from the mid-century - 3" x 2" - White enameling - Gold plated accents - By Monet (signed on verso) - Circa 1960s - Estate A...Category
Vintage 1960s American Modern Brooches
- Vintage Diamond BroochLocated in New York, NYCommand attention in this exquisite diamond brooch from the Jewels Aficionado antique collection. Outfitted with a whopping 20.40 carats of diamonds set in platinum, the brooch mixes...Category
Vintage 1960s Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Art deco diamond brooch, French, circa 1920.Located in London, GBArt deco diamond brooch. Set to centre with one round old cut diamond in an open back rubover setting with an approximate weight of 0.85 carats, surrounded by 45 round old cut diamon...Category
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Made in France Diamond and Ruby Detachable Brooch – Circa 1860’sLocated in Jacksonville, FLThis item is an antique 19th-century diamond crescent moon brooch with a detachable spray of rubies and diamonds. It is made in France, circa 1860. The brooch features an elegant dou...Category
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Ruby
- Vintage flower brooch made of Lucite and cut wood from the 1930s USALocated in Stuttgart, DELoving flower brooch made in the 1930s USA. Window glass from the aircraft industry was used for this type of jewelry! . The flower was cut out of wood and placed on the Lucite leav...Category
Vintage 1930s American Artisan Brooches
- Huge Polished Gilded Gold Vermeil Hardware Set With Natural Amber PendantLocated in New York, NYThis wonderfully elegant huge polished gold vermeil hardware detailed with intricate sculpted Filigree frames a beautiful natural Amber. The height measures 3 1/2 inches. The...Category
Vintage 1980s Mexican Artisan Necklace Enhancers
- Cilea Paris Oversized Turquoise Resin Ribbon Pin BroochBy CiléaLocated in Atlanta, GAThis exquisite brooch from Cilea Paris is a piece of art to wear, crafted by hand with skillful attention to detail. Made with high-quality resin, it features a beautiful turquoise r...Category
Early 2000s French Modern Brooches