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The latest offering from renowned author Ann Mitchell Pitman features the dazzling jewelry designs of DeLizza & Elster, a company known to jewelry lovers the world over as "Juliana." This all-new reference book, targeted to collectors both novice and experienced, showcases a vast variety of vintage jewelry from a prolific manufacturer, one whose designs debuted in 1947 with simple, crystal rhinestone pieces and progressed to bolder, high-glitz bijoux in the 1990s. Special facets of the book include photographs and in-depth information about findings, chains, rhinestones, art glass, and beads employed; a crucial timeline chronicling when specific jewelry was designed; and key terms used by the manufacturer. Full-color photographs capture many complete sets, including alternate color versions of single designs,
and in some cases, varying motifs in pins, brooches, and earrings designed for each set. Signature attributes and construction methods show collectors how to determine for themselves if a piece of unsigned jewelry is actually the product of this high-profile jewelry house. It was my privilege to help Ann with this book. For information and to order it directly from her, please email Ann at annpitman@yahoo.com
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An example of another style of foldover clasp that DeLizza and Elster used with some of their five link bracelets. Not often seen but definitely seen on the pastel colored stippled cabochons parures.
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Juliana Capri blue rivoli bracelet, dangling pin and earrings
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"MEMOIRS OF A FASHION JEWELRY MANUFACTURER" - DeLizza and Elster Inc. "For years collectors wondered about the mysterious creator of the Juliana line - some of the most colorful and inventive costume jewelry to be found. Here Frank DeLizza, head of DeLizza and Elster Inc. tells the engaging tale of his family’s odyssey in America, their embrace of jewelry-making as their foothold in a new land and the many companies, besides Juliana, they created to sell their wares. Whether he is telling an amusing anecdote about the famous names in this glamorous world, giving us an insider’s view of designer decision-making, discussing the headaches of running a business, or describing the colorful characters in his extended Italian-American family, in the end it is Frank’s warm and generous spirit that leaves an inspiring and lasting impression." To purchase this book with its packed-full pages of highly interesting commentary, copies of designs and pages of colorful jewelry and drawings, cut and paste this link into your browser and you will go to Mr. DeLizza's web site with the information: http://www.jewelrybydelizza.com
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A bevy of springtime beauties I call "D&ELicious". Only one is not a D&E. It is a Coro and is the pale yellow flower with a goldtone center that is somewhat overlaying the red flower in the middle row about three pins in from the right hand side. The Coro pin is not marked but I have the pin and earrings of an identical set and only the earrings are signed "Coro".
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This is a wonderful example of NON-D&E/Juliana jewelry. It has a lot of the same attributes - large watermelon rhinestones, open-back settings, unusual stone combination, and glitz and sparkle. I showed this to Frank DeLizza when we first met and he confirmed that was NOT made by D&E, although he said it looked very similar to their jewelry. He said they did not use this style of foldover clasp endings (see last full-size image).
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Beautiful D&E / Juliana parure with green molded glass stones, set with tiny topaz rhinestones. A hard to find set!
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Very unusual DeLizza & Elster aka Juliana drippy bib and earrings with mother-of-pearl circles with crystals inside them and clear rhinestone chain and crystals.
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Gorgeous D&E aka Juliana huge drippy bib, bracelet and earrings with 5/16" aurora borealis rhinestones, gold beads and crystals. Heavy and fabulous!
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DeLizza & Elster pieces made for Alexis Kirk, including a ring.
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Beautiful DE LIZZA & ELSTER aka JULIANA flower brooch of concave oval cabochons with a hematite-like finish, surrounded by thin navettes of the same finish, small black cabs and lots of grey rhinestones. There is a small flower "roundelle" that is riveted to the stem.
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D&E flowers with curved leaves. Note the rivets (called "eyelets") on the back of the brooch.
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Clear rhinestone D&E aka Juliana flower pin.
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Fabulous topaz and dark amber D&E aka Juliana flower pin.
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This is one of the most unusual JULIANA style sets I have ever seen. If I did not have the matching bracelet and necklace, I might not believe it is what we have come to know as De Lizza & Elster, aka Juliana. It has pink japanning as shown by the reverse of one earring in the picture. All pieces are set with bright and glittering pink, fuchsia and hot pink rhinestones and blue AB rhinestones for just a little accent. The brooch is 2" in diameter and the drop earrings are 2" long x 5/8" wide.
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