Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Artist 1950s Modern Sterling Set OpenworkLeaves RebajesProtege Earrings & Brooch

About the Item

This mid-century modern-art sterling-silver openwork stylized-leaves set of brooch and screw-back earrings was handcrafted by metalsmith Otto Robert Bade (1921-2019). His distinct work in 1958 is captured in photograph #47 among the 100 representing centuries of U.S. jewelry in the book published by Yale University Art Gallery, "Baubles, Bangles And Beads: American Jewelry From Yale University, 1700-2005". Along with the "sterling" stamp, his monogram "ORB" is signed on the brooch and one of the earrings. Recognized for his minimalist three-dimensional curvaceous style inspired by natural subjects such as foliage or animals, this more elaborate and intricate set dates the three pieces among his early independent work. Bade most likely created this sculptural set between 1958-1959 when he focused on developing his own jewelry designs as a new business in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Since 1941, the self-taught artist from Nebraska had overseen production in New York for copper-jewelry designer Francisco Rebajes. Based on Bade's subsequent outside success, in 1960 he bought Rebajes Wearable Art, which had become one of the top mid-century American studio-jewelry companies. Whereafter, Bade used the company's workshop machinery to increase production of his own and Rebajes' former designs. So works from this later period are much sleeker usually with less silver. As Bade often brushed and/or blackened his metal surfaces for a softer appearance that enhanced shadows, it is not clear if the fine scratches that can only be seen with a loupe are intentional. To reflect its age, we have not polished the silver.
  • Creator:
  • Metal:
    Sterling Silver
  • Dimensions:
    Width: 1 in (25.4 mm)Depth: 0.75 in (19.05 mm)Length: 1.25 in (31.75 mm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 3
  • Style:
    Modernist
  • Place of Origin:
    United States
  • Period:
    Mid-20th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1950s-1960s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3244218533722
More From This SellerView All
  • HattieCarnegie 1955 Glass Crystal HandWired MixedBead GiltMetal Clip Earrings
    By Hattie Carnegie
    Located in Chicago, IL
    These Hattie Carnegie multicolor glass, crystal and gilt-metal earrings notably include her script last-name signature without copyright symbol that was used on clips before her deat...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s American Baroque Revival Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Coral, Crystal, Gilt Metal, Copper, Brass, Gold

  • MiriamHaskell 1945 CrystalRosesMontees Filigree Glass Enameled ClimberEarrings
    By Frank Hess for Miriam Haskell
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Before the brand signature was added in 1947, Miriam Haskell's first designer Frank Hess since 1926 designed these asymmetrical Baroque-style climber earrings with hand-painted white-and-ecru enamel leaves, crystal and glass beads, and Russian-gold gilt metal flowers, which are attached to a thick filigree branch that launched the post-war style of covering wires used to attach roses montees and beads behind an additional filigree plate. A similarly constructed and shaped pale-blue pair of climbers dated 1945 are in the renowned Barbara Berger museum-exhibited costume-jewelry collection. Characteristic of the materials favored by Hess for his designs, the clear rosette-cut rhinestones, intricate gilt-metal decorations, and white round glass beads were handcrafted in France by Parisian Louis Rousselet, who was among the first paruriers for Coco Chanel's couture clothing since the 1920s. In contrast to bold costume-jewelry by Chanel using...
    Category

    Vintage 1940s American Art Nouveau Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Pearl, Crystal, Gilt Metal, Enamel, Gold

  • Couture 1936-49 Schiaparelli-Dali-Style Set FauxSapphire&Pearl Earrings & Brooch
    Located in Chicago, IL
    This surrealistic handcrafted faux-sapphire-topped-pearl cluster brooch and clip-earrings set dates to around WWII, when fashion designer Elsa Sch...
    Category

    Vintage 1940s American Modern Brooches

    Materials

    Crystal, Pearl, Sapphire, Mixed Metal

  • HenrySchreiner EarlySet ProngSetCrystal Silver Spray Tiered Earrings & Brooch
    By Henry Schreiner
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Henry Schreiner, the Austrian-born blacksmith founder of Schreiner in New York in 1932, handcrafted this demi-parure of prong-set clear crystal stylized-foliage sprays after he began...
    Category

    Vintage 1940s American Victorian Brooches

    Materials

    Crystal, Diamond, Rhodium, Silver

  • Couture CocoChanel Byzantine ThePurpleHeart PearlAmethystQuartz GoldMedallion
    By Chanel
    Located in Chicago, IL
    During the ArtDeco period when Gabriel "Coco" Chanel was at her peak as a Parisian couture fashion-designer in the early 1930s, this antique one-of-a-kind handcrafted gem-fringed and gilt-chain medallion brooch with trombone clasp was commissioned to accessorize one of her clothing designs. Marked only "FRANCE" like some early 1930s Chanel couture jewelry (without a brand stamp until the 1950s), its artistic origin is most likely from ornate organic-form sketches by her favorite parurer Fulco di Verdura. The Sicilian duke began creating fabric patterns for Chanel in 1927, which shortly expanded to fine jewelry beginning with custom pieces for herself. These include the iconic Byzantine-influenced gem-adorned cuffs referencing the Maltese military-cross, which the French designer can often be seen wearing in circa-1930s photos. This bright yellow-gold brooch suits goldsmith Verdura's early anti-Art-Deco aesthetic that was considered a radical departure from 1920s silver-tone jewelry, which otherwise featured linear geometric designs or figurative representation. The softly-shaped deconstructed gem-bouquet mixes amethyst and rose-quartz beads with natural Keshi pearls and intricate tiny gilt leaves, which are wired to a Baroque-motif open-work frame that dangles another gem surrounded by a thick gilt-rope halo. Notably, Verdura is credited with re-introducing since Victorian times the rope motif to jewelry. Since 1930, Verdura's unique style was influenced by travels with Chanel to explore Byzantine art, Baroque architecture, and exotic flora-and-fauna among his native Italian aristocratic estate. The legendary fashion-editor Diane Vreeland and American entertainment-stars were among the first Chanel clients to acquire couture real-gem-adorned jewelry made by Verdura, while one of the two brooches treasured by Vreeland was titled "Theodora". See our photo of the Byzantine mosaic of Empress Theodora, whose image wearing many teardrop pearls above her chest and surrounded by a golden halo seems to be the inspiration for this brooch. As one of the most important modern-design collaborations, Chanel's close relationship with Verdura lasted largely-undocumented years in Paris, until he launched his first outside jewelry venture with a Hollywood designer-boutique after emigrating to the United States in 1934. By 1939 as a financially-backed in-demand goldsmith, he founded the namesake jewelry-company Verdura in NYC. After he retired in 1973, the brand continued to operate without him with different owners. Given the duo's designs that played with historic and military references, Chanel's couture commission for this purple medallion may have been sparked in the early 1930s when the internationally-new...
    Category

    Vintage 1930s French Brooches

    Materials

    Amethyst, Pearl, Quartz, Gold, Gilt Metal, Yellow Gold

  • Artist BertoiaStyle Hammered SterlingSilver SquiggleSpiral UndulatingWire Brooch
    Located in Chicago, IL
    This modern mid-century abstract three-dimensional unsigned brooch is a single hand-hammered sterling-silver wire that was shaped by an artist into an undulating squiggle that ends i...
    Category

    Early 20th Century American Modern Brooches

    Materials

    Sterling Silver

You May Also Like
  • Exceptional Art Deco Jeweled Flower Set
    Located in New York, NY
    Exceptional Art Deco Jeweled Flower Set from the 1930's. Incredible scale and design in a multitude of colors set in sterling silver. Matching screw back ea...
    Category

    Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Brooches

    Materials

    Vermeil, Sterling Silver

  • Tiffany & Co. Carved Amethyst Diamond Gold Beetle Earrings Brooch Set
    By Tiffany & Co.
    Located in New York, NY
    Set of beetle earrings and brooch, by Tiffany & Co in 18k gold and platinum, set with carved amethyst and diamonds. Earrings measure 16mm x 12mm, brooc...
    Category

    Vintage 1980s Brooches

    Materials

    Amethyst, Diamond, Gold

  • Antique Victorian Micro Mosaic Gold Earrings Brooch Set
    Located in New York, NY
    Victorian gold earrings and brooch set with micro mosaic ornaments in the center. Earrings are 52mm x 22mm. Brooch - 40mm x 35mm. Weight of the set - 24.8 grams.
    Category

    Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

    Materials

    Gold

  • Vintage Mexican William Spratling Silver Modernist Square Cube Earrings & Brooch
    By William Spratling
    Located in Philadelphia, PA
    A very fine, three-piece Mexican silver modernist square cube clip-on earrings and brooch. By William Spratling. With cube-shaped screw back earrings with screwbacks and a confor...
    Category

    20th Century Mexican Modernist Brooches

    Materials

    Silver

  • 3.25ct Diamond Enamel Yellow Gold Pin and Earrings Set
    Located in New York, NY
    This is an elegant 18k yellow gold pin and earrings set. The set features sparkling round cut diamonds that weigh approximately 3.25ct. The co...
    Category

    20th Century Brooches

    Materials

    Diamond, 18k Gold

  • Wedgwood Jasper Wear Blue Oval Earrings & Pendant Brooch Set in 14K Yellow Gold
    Located in Honolulu, HI
    This gorgeous set features a brooch/pendant and a set of earrings. Each item features a carved out lady in a flowy dress carrying a bouquet on a baby blue jasper wear background. The...
    Category

    Late 20th Century American Modern Brooches

    Materials

    Jasper, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Recently Viewed

View All