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.

A native of Chicago, Harold M Eisenberg (1897-1995) was the president of Eisenberg & Sons and Eisenberg Ice. Mr. During World War I he served in the U.S. Navy. Harold and his wife Ruth had a son, Harold Jr and a daughter, Lois Wilheim.

Notably, in 1930 Samuel J Eisenberg (1898-1974) was Chairman of the Chicago Group of the Associated Dress Industries of America. He and his wife Celia had three children – daughter June and two sons Jimmy and Karl. Karl S Eisenberg (1927 – 2024) joined his father’s business in 1951, and soon took over the company.

The Eisenberg fashion house regularly held fashion shows, showcasing accessories alongside exquisite clothing. The successful company not only survived the Depression but also expanded its production and product range. Its exquisite style and high-quality craftsmanship, both in clothing and accessories, helped it survive competition from other renowned jewelry firms, such as Weiss.

Agnini & Singer

To create accessories, Eisenberg collaborated with costume jewelry manufacturer Agnini & Singer (656 N. Western Ave, Chicago). Eisenberg fashion house also imported Austrian crystals from Swarovski to create its own jewelry and accessories.

Other notable costume jewelry makers included Ruth M. Kamke (1914 – 2001), a jewelry designer for the New York-based company Fallon & Kappel, Inc. She created jewelry for Eisenberg from 1940 to 1970.

Having begun its own jewelry production in 1936, the Eisenberg firm abandoned sewing entirely just twenty years later. A distinctive feature of Eisenberg jewelry was the abundance of crystals of various cuts and colors. These pieces were fully in line with all the fashion trends of the period.

Ruth Kamke’s large, bold, and beautiful jewelry was handcrafted from the highest quality crystals and sterling silver. Exquisite and timeless, Eisenberg pieces regularly appeared in fashion magazines from the 1930s to the 1970s.

In 1947 Eisenberg changed in their merchandising policy by manufacturing Eisenberg Ice jewel-toned pieces, compacts and cigarette cases. Eisenberg line also launched perfume and cosmetics in the famous-four Eisenberg fragrances: Stirring, Startling, Excitement and Enticing.

Located at Merchandise Mart, Chicago 54, Illinois, Eisenberg Jewelry Inc moved to their new offices and show-rooms at 22 W. Madison Street in January 1949.

Karl Eisenberg

In 1977, the firm, under the leadership of Karl Eisenberg, went through a merger, having become a division of Berns-Friedman Co, Chicago wholesalers of costume jewelry. Finally, after becoming part of the new company, Eisenberg jewelry lost the sophistication and uniqueness that had characterized the brand before.

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