40's Florenza Buddha Celluloid Necklace Bought $18~Sold $39.00

1940's Florenza vintage costume necklace with celluloid plastic buddha, beads, pearl and rhinstones on a silver plated chain. Highly collectable and unique. A little history: The Florenza line of costume jewelry was fist produced by a company called the Dan Kassoff Company, which started in the 1930s and then operated under the Florenza name from 1948 to 1981. Florenza was a major player in the costume jewelry industry in New York City. Kasoff first worked in the garment industry but learned about the jewelry trade when hired by Speier Costume Jewelry Co. Kasoff worked there for ten years before going on his own. Florenza designs had a distinctive look. The stones were truly interesting and the metal work was expertly executed. The metals have an antique look to them, in gold, silver or in-between tones. The stones and metals come together in unusual, creative ways and the combination of all these elements is particularly striking. Florenza costume jewelry designs also tended to have an “old world” look and feel to them.