Napier Sterling Silver Fur Clip

I flipped when I saw this double pronged brooch the other day and I just had to have it!  It is a huge piece, measuring approximately 2 1/2 inches wide x 3 1/4 inches tall, and weighs 1.4 ounces.  It was made by Napier in the 1940s, a company known as the oldest fashion jewelry house in the United States who manufactured jewely in my hometown of Meriden, CT from 1890 until 1999! 

In 1875, Napier began as a silver product manufacturer named Whitney & Rice in Attleboro, MA.  The business was sold in 1882 and the name was changed to Carpenter and Bliss, then shortly thereafter to E.A. Bliss and Company.  The company shifted focus from silver products to modern/costume jewelry after WWI, then became the Napier-Bliss Company in 1920, being renamed after James Napier, the company president from 1920-1960.  Finally in 1922, the name was changed to the Napier Company, as it is still known today, and is currently owned and operated by the Jones Apparel Group.  Napier jewelry is now mass produced and available in major department stores.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece.  Questions, comments, and additional information are always appreciated.  My online shop on http://www.etsy.com/ is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Jackson Jewels.  Retrieved on 1/10/2011 from http://www.jacksonjewels.com/Reference/Jewelry_Companies_M-O.htm

Antiquing Online.  Retrieved on 1/10/2011 from
http://www.antiquingonline.com/jewelry-designers2.htm