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EISENBERG

ORIGINALS

BY KEN HALL

isenberg Originals are the most beautiful and brilliant
pieces of costume jewelry no one’s ever heard of. The massive
Ecollection of someone who literally wrote the book on Eisenbergs
was recently auctioned off to many lucky buyers who, thanks to her,
know what the excitement is all about.

A COLLECTION—AND SPECIALTY—BEGINS

Ever heard of Eisenberg Originals? If not, don’t feel bad. Sharon Schwartz
was a seasoned antique dealer and collector who had never even heard of
Eisenberg when she entered an antique shop in the late 1980s to browse, and
there spotted a gorgeous rhinestone piece. “On the back, it said, ‘Eisenberg
Original,’” she said. “I fell in love and began a collection that grew and grew.”
Schwartz tried to learn more about Eisenberg Originals, “but there was very
little out there.” So, with help from her husband (a research super-sleuth), a
friend (and antique shop owner), and an extensive collector who was known as
“the queen of Eisenberg” (who began her collection prior to WWII), Schwartz
became an authority on Eisenberg Originals, as well as a serious collector.
Her knowledge of the company
and the items they produced—
mostly dazzling costume jewelry
pieces but also clothing, handbags,
perfumes, compacts, cosmetics,
and belts—was so vast, she wrote
the definitive book on the subject:
Eisenberg Originals, The Golden
Years of Fashion, Jewelry and Fragrance, Eisenberg Originals one-of-a-kind
1920s-1950s. Laura Sutton, a friend, and prototype locket dress clip with huge
collector, was a co-author. square-cut central crystal, emerald-cut
The book, published in 2017 by Schiffer, and bezel-set rhinestones, with original
took three years to compile and write. Then, press photo. This rare locket is the only
Schwartz made the difficult decision to sell known locket design from Eisenberg.
her collection, in its entirety, which she did, Sold for $4,250
on September 12th, through Ripley
Auctions in Indianapolis. “I’d love to report Below: Eisenberg Originals figural gold-plated
my children were interested in my Eisenberg prancing horse brooch with incised stars with
Originals, but sadly they weren’t,” she said. rhinestone centers, red enamel hooves and
“So, I decided to offer them to the world.” black enamel main and tail, late 1930s.
Sold for $1,500
The sale was a huge success, grossing
Sharon Schwartz not only collected nearly $100,000. “The auction was
Eisenberg Originals, she wrote the definitive organized in the same order as the book,”
book on the topic: Eisenberg Originals, said Kristen Hein of Ripley Auctions.
The Golden Years of Fashion, Jewelry “We literally started with page one and went
and Fragrance, 1920s-1950s.
through the last page, offering lots in the
order as they appeared. Hundreds of pieces were sold, with prices that mostly blew past
even the high estimates. Even the old magazine ads did well.”

Title image: Eisenberg Originals iconic sterling vermeil mermaid brooch holding strands of
aquamarine crystals, with faceted open-backed aquamarine crystal torso and red enamel lips,
mid-1940s. Advertised in Vogue magazine, circa 1946. Sold for $4,500

22 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles