The history of the “Originals by Anthony Creations” costume jewelry brand began in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1945. Anthony’s founder was jeweler Antonio Aquilino (1907 – 1948), a native of Naples, Italy. He emigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Antonio Aquilino named the company after his son, Anthony.

Registered at 50 Aleppo Street, Providence 9, the company produced necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and brooches made of sterling silver, gold-plated, or 12-14k gold filled, Swarovski crystals, lucite, and rhinestones. Designed in a classic 1940s style and elegantly packaged in branded boxes, these jewelry sets became popular.

Immediate success

Since 1946, the company had been a regular participant in jewelry shows and exhibitions, where it caused a real sensation and conquered the American market. Anthony’s exclusives, according to their advertising, were “absolutely unavailable elsewhere. It is a revolutionary new approach to jewelry styling that defies description.”

Traditionally, the company’s exhibition pavilions were located in the Sheraton-Biltmore Providence Hotel or in their factory showrooms.

Anthony jewelry first appeared in fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Jeweler’s Circular in 1946. Antonio Aquilino, president of Anthony’s company, was the creator of several of his jewelry designs, for which he received patents in 1947.

Company management

Among the company’s several executives and managers who contributed to its development was Stanley Cohnheim, vice president. Previously, he headed the Stern-Fel jewelry company as president. He also served on the board of directors of the Providence Jewelry Manufacturers Association.

Stanley Cohnheim worked for Anthony until 1953, and in 1954, he became president of the Louis Stern Company. After Antonio Aquilino’s death in 1948, his brother, Joseph Aquilino, took over the company in partnership with Anthony and Antoinette Aquilino, the founder’s children. Their names gave rise to the Anthony and Antoinette trademarks.

According to the 1952 Jeweler’s Circular, one of the sales managers was Fred W. McKeown, who represented Anthony in Texas and Oklahoma.

Anthony’s company ceased to exist as a result of the merger of several Providence jewelry companies in November 1960.

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