Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Couture Montague 1950s French WiredGlassBeads CrystalEnameledRondelles Earrings

About the Item

In the 1950s while he operated an eponymous Parisian couture costume-jewelry boutique, Francoise Montague designed these unique handmade ornate pair of sparkly clip earrings featuring black faceted-glass beads, prong-set clear crystals, crystal-inset black-enameled silver rondelles, and gold or black-enameled metal caps and spacers. The complex convoluted knotted wiring is hidden in back by his signature ribbed-bullseye plates for earrings, while his pieces were not signed until after mid-century. According to the book by Florence Muller, Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture, Montague's oldest pieces were only identified by a paper brand tag when sold at the boutique, which had been founded by his mother in the late 1940s after the success of her post-war artisan jewelry workshop De Saurma. Some other mid-century Parisian paruriers with distinctly different styles also sometimes used a ribbed-bullseye plate, but their likewise unsigned one-of-a-kind earrings for couturiers, such as Gabriel "Coco" Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli and Balenciaga, were instead stamped with the patent-text "depose" and/or country of origin.
More From This SellerView All
  • HattieCarnegie 1955 Glass Crystal HandWired MixedBead GiltMetal Clip Earrings
    By Hattie Carnegie
    Located in Chicago, IL
    These Hattie Carnegie multicolor glass, crystal and gilt-metal earrings notably include her script last-name signature without copyright symbol that was used on clips before her deat...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s American Baroque Revival Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Coral, Crystal, Gilt Metal, Copper, Brass, Gold

  • Couture Cis Zoltowska FingerlikeProngSet Red CrackleGlass Balls Silver Earrings
    By Countess Cis Zoltowska
    Located in Chicago, IL
    In the mid-century, Austro-Hungarian Comtesse Cissy Zoltowska designed haute-couture costume jewelry with elements of hand-craftsmanship for some of the leading European houses inclu...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century European Modern Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Silver, Mixed Metal

  • Vendome GiltLeavesBranch GoldFilagree Handwired BlackGlass Crystals ClipEarrings
    By Vendome
    Located in Chicago, IL
    These post-WWII high-end Vendome hand-wired clip earrings each feature a spray of yellow-gold gilt-metal leaves with a stylized branch and five prong-set clear crystals among a clust...
    Category

    Vintage 1940s American Modern Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Crystal, Gilt Metal, Yellow Gold

  • MiriamHaskell 1945 CrystalRosesMontees Filigree Glass Enameled ClimberEarrings
    By Frank Hess for Miriam Haskell
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Before the brand signature was added in 1947, Miriam Haskell's first designer Frank Hess since 1926 designed these asymmetrical Baroque-style climber earrings with hand-painted white-and-ecru enamel leaves, crystal and glass beads, and Russian-gold gilt metal flowers, which are attached to a thick filigree branch that launched the post-war style of covering wires used to attach roses montees and beads behind an additional filigree plate. A similarly constructed and shaped pale-blue pair of climbers dated 1945 are in the renowned Barbara Berger museum-exhibited costume-jewelry collection. Characteristic of the materials favored by Hess for his designs, the clear rosette-cut rhinestones, intricate gilt-metal decorations, and white round glass beads were handcrafted in France by Parisian Louis Rousselet, who was among the first paruriers for Coco Chanel's couture clothing since the 1920s. In contrast to bold costume-jewelry by Chanel using...
    Category

    Vintage 1940s American Art Nouveau Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Pearl, Crystal, Gilt Metal, Enamel, Gold

  • MiriamHaskell 1926-39 ArtDeco Enamel Aqua GiltFiligree Scallop BrassClipEarrings
    By Miriam Haskell
    Located in Chicago, IL
    During the Art Deco period, Miriam Haskell and her first designer since 1926 Frank Hess created these blue-tone enameled scallop-edged Russian-gilt brass earrings with intricate wire...
    Category

    Early 20th Century American Art Deco Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Turquoise, Yellow Gold, Gilt Metal, Enamel, Brass, Gold

  • Couture Early Chanel Marked MadeInFrance WiredPearl&LampworkGlass Clip Earrings
    By Chanel
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Marked "Made In France" on their antique brass back-plates like the initial unbranded couture costume-jewelry commissioned by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel since 1924, these beaded early-handcrafted-clip earrings are arranged with wire in a floral motif featuring button-like mother-of-pearls accented by smaller pieces of lampwork glass with an ecru organic coating that mimics pearl nacre. The pair were designed to accessorize a one-of-a-kind clothing ensemble (likely including cultured-pearl buttons and a brooch) for a client of the pearl-associated French couturier whose earliest jewelry--unlike her fashion-designer peers--sometimes mixed real and faux gems. The glass artistry, clustered arrangement and earring findings are characteristic of one of her Parisian paruriers, Louis Rousselet, who was a lampwork master with a workshop since 1920 specializing in faux-pearl glass beads and wire-work assembly, along with other decorative elements. Since the three-piece flat-brass lever clips without hinge-holes on both sides predate Rousselet's wire-horseshoe clips, they can be dated like the patinated brass hardware to the mid-1920s. The beads of various sizes and shades of white that are wired to these earrings include four round graduating iridescent mother-of-pearl disks, along with lampwork glass replicating four baroque pearls, three round pearls and two seed pearls. There are natural impurities present on the green-and-pink-reflecting cultured pearls, while we can clean dust from the coated-glass crevices upon request. Of note, Chanel did not include a brand signature on any of her couture costume jewelry prior to the mid-1950s. As many of her clients who came to Paris for their couture-clothing fittings were foreign, the coordinated unique jewelry that was expected to leave the country was merely stamped "Made In France" or "France". We acquired these earrings in The States along with similar pair with additional but smaller "petals, berries and leaves" from the same Rousselet commission. Further, Art Deco couture...
    Category

    Vintage 1920s French Artisan Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Brass

You May Also Like
  • 18K solid GOLD grape ruby earrings
    Located in Den Haag, NL
    Are you looking for a unique and elegant accessory to complement your outfit? Do you love the rich and vibrant color of ruby? If so, you will love our grape ruby earrings! These earrings are made of 18k solid gold and feature natural loose ruby stones...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Modern Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Ruby, Gold

  • Gold, Lapis and Coral Earrings
    Located in Amsterdam, NL
    A pair of geometric, 18-carat gold, lapis, and white coral earrings, consisting of a round button and a navette shaped drop, each set with a cabochon cut slab of lapis and of white c...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s French Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Red Agate Burgundy Clear Round Gold Clip Earrings
    By Christian Dior
    Located in Wokingham, England
    Very excellent condition. Vintage and rare to find. Not any colour loss or scratches. A very beautiful pair of clip on earrings by Chr. DIOR, signed at the back. Size: 2.2*2.2 c...
    Category

    Vintage 1980s German Art Deco Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Gold Plate

  • Red Coral Green Emerald Diamonds 18 Karat White Gold Dangle Clip-on Earrings
    By Botta gioielli
    Located in Milano, IT
    Amazing dangle clip-on earrings crafted in 18k white gold with 18 carved natural green emeralds leaf-shape 25.10 ctw, 10 Diamonds 0.80 ctw and rare Mediterranean red coral 62,60 ctw,...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Dangle Earrings

    Materials

    Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

  • YSL Yves Saint Laurent Blue Glass Crystal Clip On Earrings from 1980s
    By Yves Saint Laurent
    Located in CHAMPEAUX-SUR-SARTHE, FR
    YVES SAINT LAURENT Clip On Earrings, Amazing Vintage Blue and Green Swarovski Crystals in a Gold Tone Metal Openwork - Gold Tone Metal and Blue, Green Swarovski Crystal Cabochons -...
    Category

    Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings

  • Navajo Native American Lapis Lazuli Shadow box Sterling Silver Earrings
    Located in Wallkill, NY
    This is an amazing pair of Navajo Jewelry! Lapis lazuli Shadow Box earrings. Lapis stones inset in a shadow box of sterling silver. Earrings measure 1.40 inches x 1.00 inch. Matchin...
    Category

    Vintage 1960s American Native American Clip-on Earrings

    Materials

    Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver

Recently Viewed

View All