DEJA Majestic Enamel & Rhinestone Bell Flower Clip

Jewelry : Vintage : Costume : Deja : Reja

 

In the "poetry of jewelry", Deja (later Reja) reigned among the supreme. Its dramatic enamel figurals have been described as exceptional, and its graceful florals exquisite.

Here is an enamel and rhinestone floral fur clip that captures the very best of Deja/Reja.

This dark pink bell flower clip is an early creation, dating to between 1939, when the New York-based company owned by Solomon Finkelstein opened business, to 1941, when the company changed its name to Reja. Another company, Du Jay, sued Deja over tradename similarity and won, forcing the latter to switch to Reja in April 1941.

Not too many of these early Deja-signed pieces are around. Even its famed "Gardenesque" floral bouquet collection — which it promoted as being "poised in the poetry of jewels" — came later, in 1947.

Our clip is a lone upright bell-shaped flower, with symmetrical tapered petals of dark pink enamel and light pink stamens within.

The graceful lines are repeated in the dark green enamel leaves, and two scalloped ribbons of rhinestones.

Almost 3" long x 1 1/2" wide, with a shiny silvertone (pot metal or sterling) base. Portions of the leaves and stem show goldwash, which may indicate it once was gilt.

The piece is marked Deja at the base of the stem. For a piece so old, this one is in very good condition, with bright enameling that's mostly intact except for the edges (of both petals and leaves). All the rhinestones are still glittery.

A Deja/Reja collection would be incomplete without one of these early masterpieces. Or, get this one for its pure poetic lines!

Item ID: 0909-DEJA1