DeROSA JEWELRY, ART and ILLUSTRATION

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  DeRosa jewelry is known for its complex dimensional design, high quality components, translucent enameling and wonderful coloring. Ralph DeRosa jewelry designs tend to be florals, figurals, retro motifs, and designs inspired by the precious jewelry of the era.  DeRosa jewelry is not easy to find, but is certainly worth the search. This New York City firm made jewelry from the mid-1930's until the 1970's, but like many jewelry makers, their 1940's jewelry is the best.

Hand painted illustrations from the De Rosa Jewelry Company were the first step in the design process. These miniature art works are from a collection of over 500 similar illustrations. Several are dated in the 1940's, and many have hand written notes about how each piece would be produced. They seem to have been done by several different artists, as the painting styles and designs vary. Where possible, finished jewelry pieces made from these or similar designs are also shown. Many jewelry designers never worked on paper first, but for those who did, these illustrations are illuminating as to the thought processes and design sense that went into the jewelry itself.

My thanks to the many jewelry lovers who have shared their De Rosa jewelry, both signed and unsigned examples. I have tried to match the actual jewelry with the closest illustrations and advertisements I currently own, and would be glad to received more De Rosa information to share on this page. I cannot confirm that all the unsigned pieces are indeed de Rosa, but comparisons to the illustrations are certainly interesting and has helped me identify several unsigned pieces.

Note: These items were photographed from private collections, and are for reference only. 
Jewelry that is available for sale can be accessed at the links at the bottom of the page.

DeROSA FLORALS

    
DEROSA unsigned 2-1/2" fur clip with lavender enameled violets on a crystal circle.  View  #d21154

   De Rosa original art work design for the clip shown at right... the note at the bottom reads "violets", and the clip was indeed done in violets instead of the forget-me-nots originally illustrated.  #140 

  DeROSA bouquet of violets fur clip, 2-1/2 inches.    View   View   View   #d18705

      DeROSA matching violet earrings. 
View #d20433

   DeROSA unsigned clear rhinestone links necklace with  tiny pastel porcelain roses and matching signed clip.    View   View   View   View   #d22193

   DeROSA 2-7/8" floral basket dress clip with tiny pastel porcelain roses.   View    View   #d21672

 DeROSA art work design #307

    DeROSA large 4-1/3" floral bouquet fur clip in pastel enamels and rhinestones.   View   #d21673

  De Rosa #102

 DeROSA sterling cream and green enameled floral fur clip, 2-1/2".  View   #d23488

De Rosa #103

De Rosa #57

De Rosa design art work #89

 DeROSA purple enameled lily 1-1/4" earrings.   View   #d21703

  De Rosa design art work #90

    DeROSA red roses 3-1/8" clip with enameling and rhinestones.  View    View   #d21162

    DeRosa #1   

    DeROSA red floral and berries clip.   View   #d21164

 DeRosa #24

  DeRosa signed pink enameled flower clip with faux pearl stamen and rhinestone accents.   View   #d20434  

  The De Rosa original art work design for the flower brooch shown at the left.  #202    

DE ROSA huge 3-dimensional rose bud 4" fur clip with invisibly set rose colored glass, rhinestones and faux pearl.    View    View    View    View   #d19517

DeRosa #58  

    DeRosa #426

     DeROSA red "carved" petals 2-3/8" floral clip with a glass opalescent center.  View    View  #d21163

DeROSA 3" flower fur clip with blue enameled petals, free-standing pink crystal stamen, and a faux pearl center.   View   View    #d20622    

    De Rosa #231
This illustration shows the same unsupported rhinestone flower petals as are used in the flower clip shown at left.

FLORAL 3-1/2" brooch in the style of DeRosa, but with no signature. Lovely purple glass beads as stamen, transparent green enameled leaves and clear rhinestones.  View   #d20383

De Rosa #104

  DeROSA  re-enameled fur clip with rhinestones and faux pearl center, 3-3/4". Shown in the ad at right.  View   #d23570

De Rosa ad courtesy of Pat Seal.

    DeROSA bleeding heart floral 3-3/4" fur clip with enameling and rhinestones.  View  #d21158

De Rosa #201      

DeROSA arrowroot floral clip.   View   #d21160  

   De Rosa Arrowroot design art work for the clip shown at left.  #146      

De Rosa design art work for the clip shown at right.   #128

   DEROSA sterling vermeil aqua and clear rhinestones fur clip, 3-1/4". View #d24925   

DeROSA 3-7/8" floral clip with aqua rhinestones.   View   #d21161

    De Rosa design art work very similar to the clip shown at left.   #130

 DeROSA 4-5/8" floral fur clip in gold tone with red and clear rhinestones.   #d19809

DeROSA  146

    DeROSA sterling vermeil bouquet fur clip, 3-1/2" by 2-1/2" and stands 3/4" deep. It has faux pearl flowers and the petal edges are accented by clear rhinestones with rich red emerald cut rhinestone buds.  View
Courtesy of Christi Chapman

De Rosa #142

    DeROSA red and clear rhinestones floral pin, 2-7/8".   View   #d23051

De Rosa #377

DE ROSA red and clear rhinestones 2-1/2" brooch, re-made from a fur clip  View   #d19792

De Rosa #127

De Rosa #122

 DE ROSA 3 inch gold washed sterling brooch with green glass cabochons and tiny clear rhinestones.   View    View    View     #d19201 

De Rosa #175

   DeROSA fur clip
Courtesy of Tammy Hellberg

    DeROSA  topaz-colored and clear rhinestones 3" three dimensional rose fur clip.   View   #d21701

    DeROSA sterling 4" stylized flower fur clip with green rhinestone petals.  View   #d21700   

De Rosa #263 

  DeROSA green and white enameled fur clips with multi-colored rhinestones.   View   View   View   #d23551

DeROSA gold tone large three-dimensional 4" wild rose fur clip with green rhinestone center and faux pearl accents.   View   #d22076

De Rosa #132

 DE ROSA gold tone wild rose 2-5/8" fur clip with a very three-dimensional design.   #d19671    View 

De Rosa #143

De Rosa #10

DE ROSA pink rhinestone and enameled bracelet and fur clip.  View    View    #d19062

De Rosa #7

 
DeROSA
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