Vintage Coppola e Toppo Shades of Green Crystal Set
When is a simple strand of crystals enough to make you want to drop your entire paycheck? Answer: When it was designed by Coppola e Toppo!
Like so many before and after, Lydia Coppola, according to the book Fashion Jewels, Coppola e Toppo by Deanna Cera, designed her pieces with an eye towards what they would be worn with. She supposedly grew tired of seeing so many women dressed and accessorized the same!
It seems her philosophy was separation between pieces. For example, if you are wearing a large necklace, you should not need to wear earrings. The necklace should be able to stand alone. She felt if another piece of jewelry was needed, it should be a bracelet or perhaps a ring. These pieces would not take away from the necklace as they were not in close proximity.
This might help to explain why many of her pieces are so dramatic.
Here is a beautifully proportioned set gold- tone metal. The brooch is large however, in keeping with her philosophy, there would be separation between it and the wired crystal earrings.
Click on the image for a larger view and description
Vintage Coppola e Toppo Green Crystal Demi- parure
The brooch is a wreath/sway with several strands of green crystals. Each end is finished with a tiny crystal round. You will find this technique on several of
this teams pieces.
At the center is another design technique often seen on their pieces. It is a
stiff arch or bridge of crystals. Note the way the cascade of crystals
graduate in color from light to darker. This is yet another signature technique. The earrings are the clip- on type.
Lydia and her brother Bruno's pieces sold at better department stores and
they produced pieces for many of the most recognizable names in fashion. Elsa Schiaparelli was a client. Also, back in the 1950s- 1960s you could not pick up a Vogue magazine without a piece of their jewels on the cover or in a fashion spread within the pages.
Collectors snap up the pieces, it seems no matter the price. These pieces were comparatively expensive when new and they continue to climb in price.
If you truly love costume jewelry, you should have at least one of their pieces in your collection. They are well worth the investment!
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