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Vintage Collectibles Home » Vintage Costume Jewelry » Hattie Carnegie
Hattie Carnegie Jewelry
Born in Vienna in 1889, Henrietta worked at Macy's at the age of 16 making hats, which is how she received the nickname Hattie. She continued trimming hats for five years before she moved into her own shop (called Carnegie – Ladies Hatter). People loved her hats, but Hattie's spirit kept reaching for new heights. Within a few years she began designing dresses and by 1920 her designs were coveted around the world.
1939 marked the year in which Hattie Carnegie jewelry began appearing on the market. Many of her pieces had special themes including Greek-styled jewelry and Asian-inspired pieces. Many pins featured animals and fish. Beyond these themes, one of her hallmarks was the addition of fine rhinestones. Markings: These items were also trademarked by Carnegie:
Here are the current listings on eBay: Go From Hattie Carnegie to Vintage Costume Jewelry
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The story of Hattie Carnegie Jewelry begins with Henrietta Kanengeiser, also known as Hattie Carnegie, who was an important name in both fashion and vintage jewelry.
This simple beginning would turn into a truly amazing career, particularly for a woman in the 1930s. By that time Hattie employed thousands of workers and had a 10 million dollar business that included jewelry, hats, clothing, and perfume. She focused on simple, beautiful clothing meant to show off a woman's best features.
Unlike some clothiers, the woman in Hattie's dresses was intended to be the star of the show, not the clothing itself. So while her clothing had a French finesse, it remained functional and comfortable. Hattie's jewelry designs were expressly intended to coordinate with her clothing, but soon became a popular line with or without any accompaniment.
There are three potential markings to watch for when shopping for Hattie Carnegie vintage jewelry. The first is “Hattie Carnegie”, second is “Carnegie”, and the third but less frequently used on was simply HC inside a diamond, inside a half oval.
Tips for Collectors:
Any of the Hattie Carnegie Vintage Jewelry that's from a theme line is highly collectible. Although there were also earrings, bracelets and necklaces, a Hattie Carnegie Booch is the most coveted and collected item from this line. Note that her work continued to be produced after her death in 1956, and this does not carry as much value as the pre-death pieces. Additionally, any pieces that feature makers marks other than “Hattie Carnegie” are more highly prized.
