This sleek Napier tassel drop necklace drew a lot of acclaim for it sleek lines and sensuous tassel. Part of The Napier Co.’s 1970 collection.  The precision of hand-wrought metal is a prime example of Napier’s talented staff.  #napierjewelry #napierdesignhistory #jewelryhistory #1970sjewelry #thenapierbook #thejewelrystylist From The Napier Book https://ift.tt/3cnbS9h

In 1956, the Fontana Sisters of Rome selected this piece to complement a gown featured during their Italian fashion show. The Napier Co. also custom made additional pieces for event that did not become part of the Napier line. The iridescent crystals (Napier’s preferred terminology) are as brilliant today as they were 75 years ago. From The Napier Book https://ift.tt/3cnbS9h

Another classic tailored 1950s design by The Napier Co. We love the tassel drops which give this piece great movement. The bracelet and earrings were equally alluring.  This piece came in both silver and gold plate.  From The Napier Book https://ift.tt/3cnbS9h

There has not been much written about the jewelry produced by The Napier Co. during the 1930s. It was thought that the company largely suspended its jewelry production during this period and focused its business on alcohol and tobacco-related items due to changed personal habits brought forth by the prohibition.

One thing is for sure; The Napier Co. made Prystal jewelry. Albeit, very little has been identified as Napier jewelry on the secondary collectors’ market.

In 1930, the company presented a line of Prystal jewelry that was part of its “Dinner Jewelry” line. Designed with the Sunday dinner frock in mind, the collection’s emphasis was on white–with black, color, or gold-tone findings to accentuate the design. The line also involved the use of faceted crystal instead of Prystal. Featured were pendant necklaces with white Prystal, filigree elements and splashes of color—mostly with added motif accents in green and red. The line also featured large festoon necklaces made of carved Prystal in a variety of shapes. (Those exact shapes remain unknown.)

The crystal necklaces were often accented with antique-gold findings. The necklaces came in single, double, and triple strand necklaces. Beads were usually graduated as a part of the design and sometimes included black or green crystal accents. Other accent elements included leaves or filigree flowers common in later station necklace designs.

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If you have a c. 1930s piece of Napier jewelry you’d like to share, please write us!

If someone walked up to you and asked, “What’s your most appealing way to get ‘nailed’ with jewelry,” you would probably think that person was cuckoo or trying to hit you up with some S & M pickup line, but when when it comes to Napier jewelry, one of the all time favorite Napier necklace and earring set from the 1970s is the Napier  “Horseshoe Nail” necklace. In other words, the jewelry “nails” it with fashion flair.

The Napier 1970s “Horseshoe Nail” necklace is so unique and captures a lot of attention when worn. Its unusual design yields some unexpected dimensionality to the piece. Perhaps in the genre of what is popularly being called “Brutalist” style jewelry, this piece, designed with what resembles hand-wrought nails embodies the Brutalist movement attributed to the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Most of the pieces from this genre will appear as artisan-like sculptures, often designed with mixed metals.

What is your favorite 1970s piece of Napier Jewelry and why?

Necklace, 1972, white metal, cast, gold and silver plated surmounted by hard resin plaque. Sculpted design of overlapping “horseshoe nail” castings to form half-circle spray surmounted by organic an abstract plaque with a prong-set resin “stone.” Measures 5 1/4″ x 6 1/4″ w. Chain measures 19″ tl.  Collection named, “Horseshoe Nail.”

The statement necklace will be stepping aside for 2013 fall fashion accessory must-have — the pendant necklace. But that doesn’t mean this new, yet pastime favorite will go without being notice. The pendant necklace can be equally dramatic, and this season’s necklaces are taking a dramatic plunge. The 1970s in my opinion was the “Decade of the Pendant” and The Napier Co. presented some of its most iconic pendant necklace pieces during this era.

The Napier pendant necklaces of the early 1970s ranged from large oval-shaped motifs to intricate open metalwork or large suspended hammered plaques. These designs were often complemented with matching cuffs, which were equally alluring. To read more about pendant necklaces of the 1970s go to page 440 of The Napier Book.

Heraldic jewelry enjoyed popularity several times during the 20^th century, including the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. So when it comes to indentify a particular decade that a piece could have been introduced into a jewelry line can often be difficult from a visual perspective. Fortunately, our ability to research collections has improved over the years making it more possible to put the pieces of history together.

This beautiful bracelet was part of a “Legends in Silver Heraldic Jewelry” collection presented by Napier in the spring of 1949. The collection consisted of two distinct bracelet styles, one necklace, and two pins. The multi-chain bracelet with a decorative gauntlet clasp and barrier spring ring closure was complemented by an unusual pill box charm bracelet of a European Knight’s Helmet.  The matching necklace to the gauntlet bracelet, measured 16” with a 4” drop suspended from the center gauntlet clasp.

The two pins of this collection consisted of a gauntlet pin that appears to have had a moveable knight’s mace; finding a pin with the mace still intact would be considered quite rare. The second pin was a heraldic shield, while the accompanying French clip earrings bore a heraldic design suspending a four-chain tassel.

Pieces from this collection ranged from ­­­$7.20 to $36.00, which included the 20% tax imposed on luxury items such as these.

The marking of the barrier spring ring with both the words “NAPIER and “STERLING” across the bar was not a common practice in the following years.  The sterling clasps are usually marked “STERLING” with an adjacent jump ring marked “NAPIER.”

The “Frosted Leaves” Collection

With Thanksgiving just two days away, I decided to share this remarkably stylish necklace that was presented by The Napier Co. in November, 1957.  The light-weight design features a bib with seven cascading drops all tapered in length. The antiqued-gold frosted finish has remained as velvety as the day it was plated. This style came in two colors: antiqued-gold and antiqued silver.  The designer was Eugene Bertolli.  The collection name is “Frosted Leaves.”