Lisner Jewelry

Lisner Jewelry

Lisner

Until reccntlv, Lisner's clean, crisp, timeless style has been neglected by collectors on the lookout for bigger names. Now, the company's skilful designs in Lucite and rhinestones, coupled with their relatively low prices, are winning over collectors.

D. Lisner & Company was established in New York City in 1904. The company made its own fine-quality, unmarked jewelry and distributed pieces for others. In the 1920s, it sold well-made jewelry marked "Lanvin's Violet." Before the outbreak of World War II, Lisner became the US agent for Elsa Schiaparelli, importing and selling the designer's French-made pieces. Additionally, it had a license to produce her jewelry and accessories in the United States.

Lisner

After the "Lisner" mark was introduced in the 1930s, the company became better known in its own right. It used the many jewelry manufacturers based in Providence, Rhode Island, to produce its pieces, including Whiting & Davis, known for its metal-mesh purses.

Lisner had its heyday in the 1950s, with its colored plastic and Lucite jewelry targeted at the lower end and mid-point of the market.

Lisner Jewelry

 Developed by DuPont in 1937, Lucite was an acrylic plastic that could be colored and shaped or molded. Many costume jewelers adopted it, and Lisner used it extensively, with impressive results.


Lisncr's color combinations and attractive designs, popular in their day, arc again drawing attention. President of the company at the time was Victor Canz, a creative driving force with a feel for fashion




. He was keen to develop the clean, unfussy style that keeps Lisner pieces looking fresh today. Ganz told his daughter, Kate Ganz Belin, that he "tried to get away from the Mamie Eisenhower thing."

Working with Lucite or plastic, Lisner designed jewelry around geometric or abstract organic shapes, such as flowers.





 On higher-end pieces these crisply molded shapes were combined with clear or colored rhinestones, most frequently the much-loved "aurora borealis" rhinestone, or with exotic lava stones. Designs were set on silver-plated or chromed bases, or, in the 1960s, on black japanned metal.

Lisner

Mt'fahvork was also enameled to great effect. These pieces were populaf and are desirable tmluy.Lisner's pieces were not all of the highest quality but they reflected the design trends exemplified by high-end brands. The 1950s rhinestonc sets are an example of this: while not of the calibre of jewelry made by Weiss or Kramer, they are still better made than comparable modern pieces. Similarly, Lisner's "leaves" are not of Schiaparelli's standard, but they are attractive and affordable.

Lisner

In the late 1950s and into the 1960s, Lisner introduced a range marked "Richelieu," which was of better quality and more expensive. Pieces are scarcer today and, if in good condition, command relatively high prices.

Lisner

Prices for Lisner Jewelry designs were very low in the late 20th century, but as the price of work by more prized designers rises, so lower-division pieces such as I.isncr's become more in demand. Well-designed marked pieces are set to increase in value.

Lisner Jewelry

 The company used the "Lisner" mark in block capitals on its own pieces for the first time in 1935. In 1938, the "Lisner" mark in script was introduced.



 From 1959, "Lisner" in block capitals, with an elongated "L," was used. However, buyers should be aware that moulds and dies were reused later, so the mark is not always a reliable indicator of the date of a piece-

In 1978, the company became the Lisner-Richelieu Corporation. Production ended in 1979.