SALE PENDING CASTLECLIFF VRBA Famous Native American-Inspired Pendant, Book Pc.

Jewelry : Vintage : Costume : Castlecliff : Lawrence Vrba

 

From across any crowded room, this super-chunky, super-colorful Native American-inspired pendant-necklace commands a presence that's hard to match.

A renowned creation by Lawrence Vrba for Castlecliff, this design was an instant hit when it first came out in 1973 — and still is, now!

It's featured in many vintage costume jewelry books, among them, Judith Miller's "Costume Jewelry". And it's a tribute to the design genius of Vrba who also created in the '70s other enduring designs for the Miriam Haskell company, among them, the Egyptian Revival collection.

Vrba was Haskell's chief designer in the '70s. But for a couple of years prior to being with Haskell, from 1970-1972, he worked at Castlecliff, designing fantastic historically-inspired huge pieces, from the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, and from the American Indians.

This pendant, sometimes mistakenly identified as Aztec-style, is actually American Indian-inspired (see attached ad from B. Altman & Co., a jewelry company thru which the pendant was ordered). It came in different color combinations, but the most famous one of all is our multi-colored version.

The pendant is 4" x 4", with five huge marbled glass cabochon accents in vivid colors of turquoise, red, cobalt blue, green and orange. According to Vrba, the glass cabochons were melted beads from Castlecliff's own bead factory.

The pendant has scalloped edges made of skinny navette-shaped "rays" enameled with the same bright colors as the cabochons.

The setting is a rich-hued goldtone, and the pendant has a animal-shaped huge bail. The back of the pendant is textured, with window pane-like backs for the colorful stones.

The pendant has a thick 28" long chain with a lobster clasp.

The pendant is marked Castlecliff in block letters in the back. It is in excellent condition, with little or no wear at all. The stones are so gorgeous, and the coloring so brilliant.

Item ID: 0709-CAST1