SOLD ST. GIELAR 'Homage to Hagler' Ivory Owl & Pastel Floral Brooch

Jewelry : Collectible : Vintage : Costume : Ian St. Gielar : Stanley Hagler

 

It was 1996, Stanley Hagler just died. A grieving Ian St. Gielar fashioned this, our ivory owl figurine and pastel floral brooch, as homage to his mentor and friend.

This is the fascinating story behind our (I suspect) limited edition brooch, which the original owner purchased directly from St. Gielar. When she passed on the story to me, I felt I had found a one-in-a-million treasure!

St. Gielar joined Hagler, the "Picasso of jewelry", as chief designer in the '80s, bringing in his "joyful" and "exuberant" palette and a meticulous attention to detail. Among his most famous pieces and considered museum-quality, are those with tiny figurine or similar accents, made of coral, mother of pearl, and other natural materials like ivory. Such as our owl here.

Our owl seems a wise one — a fitting tribute to a mentor from a disciple (Also, I remember seeing a similar Hagler figurine in Ann Miller's "Costume Jewelry" book, but I have to double check that).

It is intricately carved, with very minute details such as feathers, even tiny Chinese characters near a wing. The owl has black glass eyes, and is holding a topaz rhinestone under the other wing.

Our wise owl is perched on top of an array of flowers and foliage, all hand-beaded in wonderful pastel shades: mint green, aqua blue, lavender, pink, yellow and coral.

The flowers have glass petals and smattered with colorful rhinestones as well. Look closely and you'd find other delightful surprises, like aurora borealis rhinestones, iridescent aquamarine beads, gilt leaves, even tiny rose red half-shell petals!

This superb brooch is an explosion of colors, and a masterful combination of textures and details!

Measures 3 1/4" x 2 3/4", with a filigree gilt base and locking c-claps closure. Our brooch is stamped both Stanley Hagler N.Y.C. and Ian St. Gielar in separate oval plaques.

In excellent unused condition. The original owner never used this but put it on display as she considered it very special.

It is! Here's one that you definitely should not pass up!

Item ID: 0708-GIE1