Etsy - VintageJewelleryFun Napier Gold-Plated V-Front Chain-Link Necklace
Description
Here is a gorgeous 1980s Napier gold-plated V-fronted cable chain necklace. This was massively popular look back in the late 80s, with heavy gold-plated chain & also bib necklaces being produced by all the main brands. This one is a slightly more delicate design than most, which probably makes it a bit more attractive to today's customer. The beauty of this necklace is that it will go with just about anything. The necklace itself measures 40.5cms (16") long, & the clasp is signed with the 1980s Napier script-style signature & a Pat.pend which dates it to slightly before 1988. The reason I know this is because the Patent that was pending here (in the process of being applied for) was the patent relating to the design of the clasp, which on another Napier necklace had been granted in 1988. Therefore, this one was probably produced just before that one had its patent granted. There is also an oval hangtag with the Napier Initial 'N' on both sides. This is a superbly elegant piece of vintage 1980s-era jewellery - high quality & stylish in a very Vogue-ish way. A great addition to your vintage 1980s collection. NAPIER The Napier Company got its start in North Attleboro, Massachusetts in 1878, under the name of The E. A. Bliss Co., manufacturing ornate belt buckles, hair pieces, match-safes, chatelaines, & gilt men's watch chains. James H. Napier became president of the company in 1920, & in 1922, the company changed its name to The Napier Co. after James Napier had acquired enough shares in the company to put forward a suggested name-change. in the 1950s, the company really flourished, producing jewellery in a wide range of styles. Napier jewellery is notable for its simple, modern, geometric & floral designs. However, the company also produce boutique & high-end jewellery. Some of the metalwork bears resemblance to Mexican & Scandinavian designs. Here's what Melinda Lewis, who wrote the amazing book about the Napier Company "The Napier Co, Defining 20th American costume jewelry" had to say about this popular jewellery brand : "Much of Napier’s jewellery was considered avant-garde at the time - all of its designers were artists first. & they had complete freedom to design what they wanted before they presented it to the team. The designers weren’t instructed to create within a particular genre, & that’s why Napier had so many different looks. Napier’s process was more organic, stemming from the individual jewellery designers themselves." Right from the year 1922 the company started stamping their name "Napier," on each & every piece of jewellery they produced, both in capital letters & also in the Mistral font (the script lettering) after 1965, & this practice continued till the 1980s when the company was bought by Victoria Creations Inc. Then they used the Mistral font mark only, but with no copyright symbol as it was earlier stamped. & the company followed the same pattern till its eventual closure in 1999 October. Napier Gold-Plated
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