Born in Bavaria, German blacksmith Henry Schreiner (1898-1954) came to New York City in 1923. Unable to find work as a blacksmith, he took a job with the Consolidated Edison Company of New York. Three years later, he found work making shoe buckles, where he honed his skills as a blacksmith, artist, and jeweler.

As early as 1932, Heinrich Schreiner adapted his name to the American style – Henry. Together with his wife Mathilde Schreiner, he founded Schreiner Jewelry Co Inc, on manufacture of rhinestone ornaments and jewelled buttons. According to 1953 Directory of Manufacturing Firms in New York State, Henry Schreiner was president, and Mathilde Schreiner was secretary and treasurer. Their firm employed 20 people.

In the early 1950s, Schreiner’s daughter Theresa Mary Schreiner (1928-2020) and her husband Ambros Albert (b.1918) joined the company. Following Henry Schreiner’s departure, they took over the firm. Fortunately, Schreiner’s successors continued the family jewelry business with the same success.

For twenty years, they also purchased crystals, lucite and stones from Austria, Germany, and also created beautiful jewelry collections. Schreiner’s jewelry continued to grace the pages of fashion magazines in the 1960s and 1970s.

The business prospered until mid 1970s. First, it was Ambros who retired in the early 1970s, then Theresa sold the company before her retirement in 1975.

Vintage costume jewelry by Schreiner, New York

Schreiner colorful pieces featured unconventional color combinations and inverted rhinestones. In addition, Schreiner initially used stones and crystals that he purchased in Czechoslovakia.

Handcrafted in limited editions, Schreiner’s exquisite high-quality jewelry was popular with stars of the time, including Marilyn Monroe. Schreiner necklaces, parures, brooches, earrings and rings decorated the pages fashion magazines in the 1950s, as well as in the 1960s and 70s, after Schreiner’s death.

Noteworthy, Schreiner only marked pieces made for department stores. The stamps included “Schreiner” or “Schreiner New York.” However, he did not sign jewelry for fashion houses. Among these fashion houses were such fashion icons as Christian Dior. Today, collectors of vintage jewelry recognize unmarked Schreiner pieces by their distinctive style, carefully thought-out design, and high-quality materials.

Schreiner Jewelry Creations