Christian Lacroix (*1951, France)
gold-colored bracelet with hand-formed chain elements
Paris, mid 1980s
unsigned
Christian Lacroix is a renowned fashion designer and couturier known for his flamboyant and theatrical designs. While his fashion creations have made him a household name in the fashion industry, Lacroix is also recognized for his vintage jewelry pieces that have captured the hearts of jewelry collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
Christian Lacroix began designing jewelry in the 1980s, during the height of his fashion career. Lacroix's jewelry designs were inspired by his love for the theatrical and the grandiose, and his pieces often featured intricate details, bold colors, and an eclectic mix of materials. Lacroix's jewelry designs are known for their opulence and boldness. He often combined different materials and styles to create pieces that were both playful and sophisticated. His jewelry pieces were made using a range of materials, including precious stones, enamel, and gold plating. Many of his pieces also feature intricate details, such as floral and animal motifs.
In addition to his collections, Lacroix also created custom pieces for clients, many of which were one-of-a-kind. His custom pieces were often inspired by the client's personal style, as well as the materials and colors that they were drawn to. Lacroix worked closely with his clients to create pieces that were unique and special to them.
Lacroix's jewelry designs have been worn by a range of celebrities and fashion icons, including Princess Caroline of Monaco, Madonna, and Naomi Campbell. His designs have also been featured in a range of fashion magazines and have been the subject of several exhibitions.
While Lacroix is no longer creating new jewelry designs, his vintage pieces are still highly sought after by collectors and fashion enthusiasts. Lacroix's jewelry designs continue to inspire and influence designers today, and his legacy as a designer of both fashion and jewelry remains strong.
About Vintage Costume Jewelry:
Costume jewelry– also known as Fashion Jewelry– was especially made popular in the mid-20th century. While their materials were less precious than real gold and diamonds, using glass stones, semi-precicious stones and lead and brass, many big fashion houses and designers produced highly complex pieces of jewelry that stand for craftmanship that today can only be found in so-called Haute Joaillerie. Most famously, Coco Chanel popularized the use of “faux jewelry”, bringing costume jewelry to life with gold and faux pearls. Chanel's designs drew from various historical styles, including Byzantine and Renaissance influences, often featuring crosses and intricate metalwork. Her collaboration with glassmakers, such as the Gripoix family (Maison Gripoix), introduced richly colored glass beads and simulated gemstones, which added depth to her creations without the high cost of traditional precious stones.
Elsa Schiaparelli– Chanel’s lifelong rival– brought surrealist influences into costume jewelry design, famously collaborating with Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau. She created the House of Schiaparelli in Paris in 1927, celebrating Surrealism and eccentric fashions. Her collections were famous for unconventional and artistic themes like the human body, insects, or trompe-l'œil, and for the use of bright colors like her "shocking pink". While Schiaparelli had to close her avant-garde business in the late 1950s and was forgotten for decades, her designs have recently been rediscovered and are celebrated for their bold design.
In many instances, high-end custome jewelry has achieved a "collectible" status and increased value over time. Today, there is a substantial secondary market for vintage fashion jewelry. The main collecting market is for 'signed pieces', which have the maker's mark, usually stamped on the reverse. Amongst the most sought after are Miriam Haskell, Sherman, Coro, Butler and Wilson, Crown Trifari, and Sphinx.
The term signed however is an invention that only reached European production in the late 1950s- when American buyers started to ask for authentification to distinguish high class designers from mass-produced pieces, while in Europe all costume jewelry had been issued by the fashion houses themselves and hence remained somewhat exclusive from the start.
Christian Lacroix (*1951, France)
gold-colored bracelet with hand-formed chain elements
Paris, mid 1980s
unsigned
Christian Lacroix is a renowned fashion designer and couturier known for his flamboyant and theatrical designs. While his fashion creations have made him a household name in the fashion industry, Lacroix is also recognized for his vintage jewelry pieces that have captured the hearts of jewelry collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
Christian Lacroix began designing jewelry in the 1980s, during the height of his fashion career. Lacroix's jewelry designs were inspired by his love for the theatrical and the grandiose, and his pieces often featured intricate details, bold colors, and an eclectic mix of materials. Lacroix's jewelry designs are known for their opulence and boldness. He often combined different materials and styles to create pieces that were both playful and sophisticated. His jewelry pieces were made using a range of materials, including precious stones, enamel, and gold plating. Many of his pieces also feature intricate details, such as floral and animal motifs.
In addition to his collections, Lacroix also created custom pieces for clients, many of which were one-of-a-kind. His custom pieces were often inspired by the client's personal style, as well as the materials and colors that they were drawn to. Lacroix worked closely with his clients to create pieces that were unique and special to them.
Lacroix's jewelry designs have been worn by a range of celebrities and fashion icons, including Princess Caroline of Monaco, Madonna, and Naomi Campbell. His designs have also been featured in a range of fashion magazines and have been the subject of several exhibitions.
While Lacroix is no longer creating new jewelry designs, his vintage pieces are still highly sought after by collectors and fashion enthusiasts. Lacroix's jewelry designs continue to inspire and influence designers today, and his legacy as a designer of both fashion and jewelry remains strong.
About Vintage Costume Jewelry:
Costume jewelry– also known as Fashion Jewelry– was especially made popular in the mid-20th century. While their materials were less precious than real gold and diamonds, using glass stones, semi-precicious stones and lead and brass, many big fashion houses and designers produced highly complex pieces of jewelry that stand for craftmanship that today can only be found in so-called Haute Joaillerie. Most famously, Coco Chanel popularized the use of “faux jewelry”, bringing costume jewelry to life with gold and faux pearls. Chanel's designs drew from various historical styles, including Byzantine and Renaissance influences, often featuring crosses and intricate metalwork. Her collaboration with glassmakers, such as the Gripoix family (Maison Gripoix), introduced richly colored glass beads and simulated gemstones, which added depth to her creations without the high cost of traditional precious stones.
Elsa Schiaparelli– Chanel’s lifelong rival– brought surrealist influences into costume jewelry design, famously collaborating with Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau. She created the House of Schiaparelli in Paris in 1927, celebrating Surrealism and eccentric fashions. Her collections were famous for unconventional and artistic themes like the human body, insects, or trompe-l'œil, and for the use of bright colors like her "shocking pink". While Schiaparelli had to close her avant-garde business in the late 1950s and was forgotten for decades, her designs have recently been rediscovered and are celebrated for their bold design.
In many instances, high-end custome jewelry has achieved a "collectible" status and increased value over time. Today, there is a substantial secondary market for vintage fashion jewelry. The main collecting market is for 'signed pieces', which have the maker's mark, usually stamped on the reverse. Amongst the most sought after are Miriam Haskell, Sherman, Coro, Butler and Wilson, Crown Trifari, and Sphinx.
The term signed however is an invention that only reached European production in the late 1950s- when American buyers started to ask for authentification to distinguish high class designers from mass-produced pieces, while in Europe all costume jewelry had been issued by the fashion houses themselves and hence remained somewhat exclusive from the start.
