1941 Reja Large Enamel Floral Iris Brooch with Diamantes
This striking iris brooch was made in New York by Reja in 1941. It is stamped REJA REG. on the reverse, a particularly useful and short-lived mark associated with the earliest period of Reja production. The company had originally traded as Deja Costume Jewelry Co. before becoming Reja in 1941 following a trademark dispute; the Reja name itself remained in use only until 1953, making these early pieces increasingly scarce survivors.
Crafted from silver-tone base metal, the brooch forms a large iris with sculptural red enamelled petals edged with sparkling diamantes. Contrasting green enamel covers the leaves, while the open flower head contains delicate wire stamens tipped with small cobalt-blue glass spheres. The combination of enamel, coloured glass and dimensional metalwork is characteristic of Reja's imaginative floral jewellery of the period. Its possible that this is gold plated - Reja's work was always of the highest quality; finished with a long C-clasp to the reverse.
The brooch is in very good antique condition particularly for a piece dating from 1941. There is some chipping and loss to the enamel consistent with its 85 years of age, but the brooch presents very well when worn. A rare example from the earliest years of this short-lived and highly regarded American costume jewellery house.
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH - 3.5 in. (9 cm)
WIDTH - 2 in. (5 cm)
Pickup available at CIRCA VINTAGE
Usually ready in 24 hours
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What is archival fashion?
Archival fashion refers to historically significant designer garments preserved for their cultural, aesthetic, or technical importance. At Circa, archival fashion includes couture archive pieces, runway garments, early designer work, and museum-quality vintage that document the evolution of fashion history.
How is archival fashion different from vintage?
While vintage typically describes clothing over 20 years old, archival vintage is selected for its rarity, provenance, and relevance to a designer’s archive or fashion history. Circa specialises in archival pieces rather than general vintage.