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Vintage 1950s Poodle Jewelry Sterling Silver Dangle Pin

$75.00

This is a lovely vintage 1950s poodle jewelry dangle pendant of solid sterling silver with enameling on the poodle. It is marked with European Italian Origin Hallmarks as well as 925 for sterling silver quality. All parts are also tested and Guaranteed solid sterling silver……Not plated. The original owner used a fancy carved late Art Deco Long Sterling Silver bar pin to which the silversmith attached a loop bail. Attached to the loop is a thick dangle bail which has the mid century Italian sterling silver hallmarks. See photo. The poodle is very thick, solid, strong, and well detailed with fine deep recesses. It also has a green enameled collar, black enameled eyes, and a bright red enameled tongue. This poodle is very fancy, well-made, and sits freely. The back is flat so it sits nicely as it dangles from the bar pin. Size is 1/8″ tall north to south from top of bar to bottom of poodle by 2 1/8″ wide east to west across the bar pin. The width across the poodle floppy ear to floppy ear is 9/16″ and the width across the bottom is 3/4″ from the tail to the front leg. Weight is 7.9grams. Condition is excellent, very gently used. No damage or repair. No dents or dings. No tears or deep scratches. Indicative of an era long gone by this is a beautiful, unusual hanging poodle pin for your vintage mid century jewelry collection.

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Description

Vintage 1950s Poodle Jewelry Sterling Silver Dangle Pin

ABOUT 1950s POODLE FASHION:

The 1950s poodle skirt was a ‘50s favorite, often in white, standing at the hem of the skirt, complete with a curly embroidered or sequin leash. Even more decorations came in the form of the large applique cats, squirrels, guitars, or catchy phrases like “See You Later Alligator.” The poodle skirt became a lasting icon of the 1950s especially for teenagers but women wore them too with more mature appliques such as the Eiffel tower, telephone, and martinis.

ORIGIN:

You have heard of Poodle skirts and their association with 1950’s fashion, but you may not know how they originated or the profound influence they have had on women’s fashions since that time.

The phenomenon started in 1947 when 25-year-old Juli Charlot needed a skirt to wear to a holiday party in Los Angeles.

Because she couldn’t sew, she cut a big circle of felt with a hole in the middle to fit her waist and appliquéd Christmas trees to it. Felt was the only material available that was wide enough to cut a complete circle skirt without any seams. The skirt was a huge hit.

A week after the party she sold the skirt to raise money to go to design school and learn how to sew.

Eventually as demand for her skirts grew, she opened her own factory. Although she continued to get orders, money was tight. Then a New York designer visited her factory, found her in tears, and invested enough money for the business to take off.

TYPES:

Although many appliqué designs were used on the skirts, it was the elegant, well groomed Poodle  with a swirly leash that proved to be the most popular. In fact circular skirts with other designs were often called Poodle skirts.

The full skirt was a welcome change from the straight or pleated below the knee skirts that were worn by young girls and women of the day. Poodle skirts were worn with flirty petticoats and a wide cinch belt.

The skirt looked cute on young girls, but pretty silly on their mothers and grandmothers. In other words Poodle skirts were one of the first “too young for you” fashions.

From that time on, seeing a youth market with money to spend, many designers worked exclusively on clothing geared to the young.

References:

(http://thepoodleanddogblog.typepad.com)

(http://vintagedancer.com/1950s/1950s-fashion-history-skirts/)