Napier Clip Earrings With Faux Pearls

Another interesting design from Napier, the reknown costume jewelry company that manufactured beautiful pieces from 1890 until 1999 in Meriden, Connecticut (my home town!).  These clip earrings are marked patent pending (made before 1955, most likely in the 1940s) and each feature faux pearls in the middle of the "crinkly" goldtone metal that resembles fabric.  Napier is considered the oldest costume jewelry company in the United States. 

Napier began as the silver manufacturer Whitney & Rice in Attleboro, MA in 1875.  They were sold in 1882 to Carpenter and Bliss.  They rapidly expanded in 1890, moving to Meriden, CT.  After WWII, the company changed their production focus from silver to costume jewelry.  Napier costume jewelry was mass produced and sold in major department stores, but many of their vintage pieces are highly collectible.  Jewelry featuring the Napier brand is currently sold today and marketed by the The Jones Group Inc. who purchased the name in 2000. 
 
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.rubylane.com/ is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Jackson Jewels. Retrieved 5/21/2011 from http://www.jacksonjewels.com/Reference/Jewelry_Companies_M-O.htm

Ebay. Retrieved 5/21/2011 from http://forums.ebay.com/db1/topic/Jewelry-Gemstones/Napier-Patent-Pending/510313493&

The Jones Group. Retrieved 5/21/2011 from http://www.jonesgroupinc.com/brands