Alice Caviness Jewelry (1943-1990s)
After World War II ended, Alice Caviness, a former fashion model, entered the world of costume jewelry.
Together with her husband, she set up shop in Long Island before moving to New York City. They produced pieces in their factory, commissioned works from other producers and imported jewelry from European manufacturers, mainly post-war Germany.
Alice Caviness’s jewelry appeared in the post-war era and speak to the promise of prosperity that typified the 1950s and 1960s thanks to her exuberant playfulness. She used high-quality materials such as sterling silver, filigree, crystals and rhinestones of dramatic size, shape and colour. She also created a fair number of enamel pieces.
Although Caviness did much of her designing, she also hired the best in the business such as Lois Steever, who eventually purchase the company when Caviness retired in the 1970s and Camille Petronzio who later worked as a designer for Miriam Haskell.
