Haute Couture Vintage! Rare 1960's Mimi di Niscemi for BRANIA Red and Pink Plastic Bead and Poured Glass Multi-Strand Necklace & Earring Set
This stunning, one-of-a-kind, pink and red plastic bead and poured glass necklace and earring set was made by the famous New York bead house "Brania" in the 1960s and designed by the legendary jewelry designer (Princess) Mimi di Niscemi.
The necklace consists of seven strands of plastic beads in varying hues of red and pink that are attached to a large flower-shaped centerpiece comprising eight poured-glass petals set with heavily gold-plated surrounds. The shortest strand is 34 cm (~13-3") while the longest is 47 cm (~18.5").
The clip-back earrings feature two red glass teardrops sitting above a round, opalescent, pink glass stone. Each element is set into a heavily gold-plated frame. The earrings are 3.5 cm (~1.4") high and 3.5 cm (~1.4") at their widest.
There is little information available about Brania, except that it was a famous New York bead house located at 389 Fifth Avenue that was in business from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. Their haute couture jewelry was featured in all the fashion magazines (see Vogue photo from November 1960 — image #9), while a 1960s spread in Simplicity shows a fairly simple five-strand beaded necklace priced at $30, which if adjusted for inflation is equivalent to around $300 today.
Mimi di Niscemi was born in Palermo, Italy, and while studying at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Arts, she also worked part-time for a jewelry manufacturer that produced Schiaparelli jewelry. In the 1950s, Mimi di Niscemi partnered with Arnold Scassi, and later Robert DeMario. In 1959 she moved to Brania before forming her own company.
If you,re looking for a one-of-a-kind piece of highly-collectible vintage jewelry with an amazing backstory this set is for you!
SUMMARY: ** MAKERS: Brania Inc, New York ** Designer: Most likely Mimi di Niscemi ** PERIOD: Early 1960s ** MATERIALS: Plastic, glass, and gold-plated metal ** CONDITION: Excellent vintage condition ** INTEGRITY: No missing elements; necklace clasp in good working condition; earring clips firm and with a good snap. ** NECKLACE LENGTH: Shortest strand is 34 cm (~13-3"); longest is 47 cm (~18.5") ** PENDANT DIMENSIONS: 6 cm (~2.4") diameter ** NECKLACE WEIGHT: 135 g ** EARRING DIMENSIONS: 3.5 cm (~1.4") high and 3.5 cm (~1.4") at their widest ** EARRING WEIGHT: 15 g (each) ** SHIPPING WEIGHT: 1,000 g
---------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT: This is a pre-owned vintage item that may show wear commensurate with age. The photographs, physical dimensions, and weight form an integral part of the description of every piece we offer. If you have any questions, please ask before ordering.
