Art Deco style geometric drop earrings, Kenneth Jay Lane, USA, 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Weight:48 g
- Dimensions:Width: 1.5 in (38.1 mm)Depth: 0.25 in (6.35 mm)Length: 2.75 in (69.85 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:United States
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. There is small showing of adhesive on the back of the earrings, but this is purely part of the original manufacture.
- Seller Location:Greyabbey, GB
- 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: Greyabbey, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Very large faceted faux crystal drop earrings, Gianfranco Ferre, Italy, 1990s.By Gianfranco FerréLocated in Greyabbey, County DownThese glamorous and striking earrings are made with faceted clear resin drops, that catch and reflect the light, topped in gilt metal, set with clear pastes. If made from crystal or ...Category
1990s Italian Drop Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Graduated topaz to citrine poured glass and gilt articulated drop earringsBy WW CollectionLocated in Greyabbey, County DownChic and elegant articulated drop earrings in cascading hues of transparent topaz to citrine, from the WW collection, a contemporary limited edition, hand made in Paris. They have ...Category
Early 2000s French Drop Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Hammered gilt metal pendant drop earrings, WW collectionBy WW CollectionLocated in Greyabbey, County DownHammered gilt metal 'shard' earrings from the WW collection, a contemporary limited edition hand made in Paris. Each pendant 'shard' is hand cut and gently beaten to give the rich ...Category
2010s French Artisan Drop Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Very long gilded 'shell and wooden bead earrings, 1980sLocated in Greyabbey, County DownVery long and exotic gilded 'shell' earrings, made from a large gilt shell and cream wooden beads,gilded beads and assorted smaller gilded and plain shells, with adjustable gilt meta...Category
Vintage 1980s British Drop Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Very long detachable drop earrings, Michal Golan, New York, 1990sLocated in Greyabbey, County DownVery attractive long drop earrings, in jade , rose quartz, with mother of pearl chips, by Michal Golan of New York. The drop section of the earrin...Category
1990s American Drop Earrings
MaterialsAgate, Gilt Metal
- A large pair of black and silvered metal earrings, Yves Saint Laurent, 1990s.By Robert Goossens for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Greyabbey, County DownYves Saint Laurent was born in 1936, and became one of the 20th Century’s most famous and prolific fashion designers. Finding himself at the head of the House of Dior, after Dior’s death, from 1957 until 1960, his first collection there certainly turned the fortunes of the couture house and launched a stellar career for himself. Accessories had always held an important place in his work, and he became highly prolific in this field, taking on certain designers, notably Loulou De La Falaise, who took charge of accessories as well as being a celebrated muse for Laurent himself. The diversity of YSL jewellery...Category
1990s French Drop Earrings
MaterialsBase Metal
- Openwork Drop Earrings with Diamonds and Emeralds 18 Kt Burnished White GoldLocated in Rome, ITDrop-shaped pendant earrings, entirely pierced with emerald pave with a total weight of 16.74 ct and diamonds with a total weight of 1.63 ct. The earrings are in burnished 18 Kt whi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Drop Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, White Gold
- Pederzani Signed Earrings for about 10.00 Ct of Diamonds and PearlsBy PederzaniLocated in Rome, ITThe earrings signed by Pederzani, are composed of a flower and a cap set with brilliant-cut and navette-cut diamonds, for about 9.50 ct., With two round pendant pearls measuring abou...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Romantic Drop Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
- 18 Carat Gold Golden Beryl and White Diamond EarringsBy Rochfort Fine JewelleryLocated in Sydney, NSW18 Carat Gold Golden Beryl and White Diamond Earrings Blossom Collection Golden Beryl and Diamond earrings. The Blossom Collection gemstones are a uniquely designed cushion cut, featuring a high table to emulate the antique Georgian style period, with a round brilliant cut base to emphasise brilliance and colour. The golden beryl's table measurement is 12.5mm x 12.5mm in perfect proportions and grade. Each golden beryl is set in a 18ct. yellow gold in a four claw setting and is gently articulated from the diamond motif at the top. The motif is set in 18ct. white gold with a post and alpha clip for pieced ears with an additional pair of butterfly fittings in 18ct. white gold. The pear cut diamond at the top is three claw set and the additional diamonds are bezel set. All diamonds are premium pear and round brilliant cut D colour...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Drop Earrings
MaterialsBeryl, White Diamond, 18k Gold
- 18 Carat Gold Tanzanite and White Diamond EarringsBy Rochfort Fine JewelleryLocated in Sydney, NSW18 Carat Gold Tanzanite and White Diamond Earrings Blossom Collection Tanzanite and Diamond earrings. The Blossom Collection gemstones are a uniquely designed cushion cut, featuring a high table to emulate the antique Georgian style period, with a round brilliant cut base to emphasise brilliance and colour. The tanzanite's table measurement is 12.5mm x 12.5mm in perfect proportions. The pair of tanzanites are perfectly colour matched and are of the highest grade material, what we refer to as 'Museum Grade'. Each tanzanite is set in a 18ct. rose gold in a four claw setting and is gently articulated from the diamond motif at the top. The motif is set in 18ct. white gold with a post and alpha clip for pieced ears with an additional pair of butterfly fittings in 18ct. white gold. The pear cut diamond at the top is three claw set and the additional diamonds are bezel set. All diamonds are premium pear and round brilliant cut D colour...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Drop Earrings
MaterialsWhite Diamond, Tanzanite, 18k Gold
- 18 Carat Gold Aquamarine, Rubelite and White Diamond Gold EarringsBy Rochfort Fine JewelleryLocated in Sydney, NSW18 Carat Aquamarine, Rubelite and White Diamond Gold Earrings Blossom Collection Aquamarine and Rubelite earrings. The Blossom Collection gemstones are a uniquely designed cushion cut, featuring a high table to emulate the antique Georgian style period, with a round brilliant cut base to emphasise brilliance and colour. The aquamarine's table measurement is 12.5mm x 12.5mm in perfect proportions and grade. Each aquamarine is set in a 18ct. white gold in a four claw setting and is gently articulated from the diamond and rubelite motif at the top. The motif is set in 18ct. yellow gold with a post and alpha clip for pieced ears with an additional pair of butterfly fittings. The pear cut diamond featured is in a three claw setting and the round brilliant cut diamond is bezel set, four diamonds equalling 0.70ct. All diamonds are premium pear and round brilliant cut D colour...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Drop Earrings
MaterialsAquamarine, White Diamond, Rubelite, 18k Gold
- Emerald Cabochon and 2.6 Carat Diamond Clip-On Drop Earrings in 18 Karat GoldLocated in Goettingen, DEEmerald Cabochon and 2.6 Carat Diamond Clip On Drop Earrings in 18K White Gold Classically elegant clip-on earrings in a stylized leaf shape each set with 9 brilliant-cut diamonds, ...Category
Vintage 1960s German Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold