Month: October 2025

Chicago Jewelry Designer Leonide Cecilia Lavaron

She was known metal worker, painter and writer, Chicago Jewelry Designer Leonide Cecilia Lavaron (1866 - 1931)
Once well known metal worker, painter and writer, Chicago Jewelry Designer Leonide Cecilia Lavaron (1866 – 1931)

Her jewelry and copper works were renowned throughout the world, but recognition only came at the turn of the 20th century. In the 1880s, Leonide Lavaron began earning a living for herself and her mother through watercolor painting. Years passed before materials for jewelry making and the necessary chemical firings became available.

Lavaron had to conduct numerous experiments before she stumbled upon the secret of “Lavaron copper” pieces. From then on, every penny she could earn she spent on achieving the desired shine and play of color. Then one day, she held an exhibition, where visitors bought up all her works. Moreover, art firms came with proposals as to the exclusive handling of her copper.
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C. R. Hettel Jewelry Company History

C. R. Hettel Jewelry Company History (1890 - 1963)
Victorian lady’s portrait oval shape floral frame brass brooch. C. R. Hettel Jewelry Company History (1890 – 1963)

One of the old and well-known jewelers of St. Louis, Missouri, Charles R Hettel (1855 – 1914) founded the C R Hettel Jewelry Co, 901 Washington Ave, in January 1890. Hettel was originally located at 504 North 6th Street. Charles Hettel ran the family business as president, and his wife Martha Freymark Hettel was a director of the company.

Initially, his company was engaged in jewelry and dry goods novelties at wholesale. Born in St. Louis Charles Hettel lived there all his life. Before founding his firm, Hettel worked for many years at Providence Jewelry Co, which was one of the largest businesses in St Louis at the time.
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Renowned American Jewelry Designer Sol P. Kaufman

Renowned American Jewelry Designer Sol P. Kaufman
Star sapphires jewelry, May 1960 ad. Renowned American Jewelry Designer Sol P. Kaufman

Soloman Kaufman, aka Sol P. Kaufman (1902 – 2010), was the leading New York jewelry designer and creator of original jewelry. Remarkably, Sol Kaufman enjoyed a long creative and family life, worthy of a Guinness World Record. Sol married Molly (1919 – 2019) in 1938 and lived with her for nearly 72 years, until his death in 2010. They had three children—two daughters and a son.

He studied at the National Academy of Design and Cooper Union. Then, in the early 1920s, he became affiliated with the jewelry industry and launched out for himself with Gem Creations, a design service which others continued for the jewelry trade.
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Bergere Costume Jewelry Company History

Bergere Costume Jewelry Company History
Fireworks collection, Vogue Mach 1968 ad. Bergere Costume Jewelry Company History

Born in Vienna, Austria, Paul Bardach (1885 – 1956), was founder and president of Bergere Inc, Providence jewelry manufacturing concern. Noteworthy, Paul Bardach had a wealth of experience in the manufacture of jewelry in his native Vienna. He had worked for 30 years in the famous Austrian jewelry firm – Turiet & Bardach.

Before World War II broke out in Europe, the Turiet & Bardach concern had been a leader in the production of Viennese jewelry for 75 years. Noteworthy, the concern employed 500 persons.
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C. D. Peacock Jewelry Company History

C. D. Peacock Jewelry Company History
1837-1937 100th Anniversary Medal Token with the busts of Elijah and Charles Daniel Peacock. C. D. Peacock Jewelry Company History

Third generation jeweler, Elijah Peacock (1818–1889) came to Chicago in 1837 and started in his trade of jeweler and watch repairer. He came of a family of English gold and silver smiths. The name of Peacock adorned a jewelry store at Chester, England, 300 years ago.

Noteworthy, five years before the founding of the Peacock Company, Chicago had a population of about 100 people and only five or six log houses, not counting the fort. When Elijah Peacock founded his company, Chicago was newly incorporated as a city with a population of 4,000 people.
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Eisenberg Ice Vintage Costume Jewelry

Eisenberg Ice Vintage Costume Jewelry
Vogue September 1967 ad. Eisenberg Ice Vintage Costume Jewelry

Austrian-born Jonas S. Eisenberg arrived in the United States in 1885 and worked for a time in the fashion industry, settling in Chicago. In 1914, Jonas and his brother Julius founded their own fashion clothing company, Eisenberg Originals.

In 1920, when Jonas and Julius dissolved their partnership, Jonas Eisenberg’s grown sons, Harold and Samuel (1898-1974), joined the family business. Accordingly, the company changed its name to Eisenberg & Sons Inc. Following the death of their father, Harold M Eisenberg led the company as president, and Samuel J Eisenberg served as treasurer, secretary, and advertising manager.
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D’Or Jewelry Company History

D’Or Jewelry Company History
An ear of wheat rhinestone sterling silver pin. D’Or Jewelry Company History

David Bernstein and Louis Schusterman established D’Or Jewelry Co., manufacturing jewelers, in 1926. Located at 206 Broadway, New York, N.Y., the firm manufactured mountings for the jobbing trade, as well as gold and diamond jewelry.

Previously, David Bernstein worked at Bernstein & Sons, manufacturing jewelers, at the same address, 206 Broadway. Notably, in the roaring 1920s, 206 Broadway was a commercial building which housed several jewelry manufacturing companies.
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