 If you're in town then come and visit us at: The Antique Connection Mall 12815 Central NE Albuquerque New Mexico, 87123 USA See More | Larry Vrba Larry Vrba is a wonderful jewelry maker and a good friend. He has been making jewelry for over 40 years and was the head designer at Miriam Haskell Jewelry in the 1970’s. Larry makes jewelry for the Broadway Stage and Metropolitan Opera, as well as for boutiques, balls and vintage jewelry shops. His pieces are almost always quite large, usually four inches or more, and he has a huge collection of vintage beads and rhinestones from which to fashion them. The brooch on the right is one of my favorites as it has such a rich combination of stones and colors. This particular piece is really too large for me to wear, but it is a jeweled sculpture. Each and every Vrba piece is hand made, so it is not always easy to get his jewelry. Vrba jewelry has never been mass produced or made outside the US. His astounding parures, poured glass petal bouquets, vase and basket brooches and Christmas tree brooches are favorites. VRBA JEWELRY VRBA CHRISTMAS JEWELRY |
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Vrba at Miriam Haskell Jewelry | After a stint in the Army, Larry moved from his home in Lincoln, Nebraska, to New York City in June 1969. Looking for work and being a fan of Miriam Haskell jewelry, Vrba repeatedly went to the Haskell offices asking for a job. By pure luck he ran into the then-owner of Haskell Jewelry, Sandy Moss, and Moss hired Vrba as a counter. A counter assembles the pieces for each piece of jewelry, preparing it for the jewelry makers. Within six weeks of being hired, Vrba was a designer making jewelry each Friday, a position he held for about 1-1/2 years. When Bob Clark, the head designer, left to partner with William De Lillo, Larry went with him. Within a short time after that he moved on to Castlecliff Jewelry where worked from about 1970-72. (See below) Meanwhile back at Haskell, another head designer left and Larry came back home, becoming head designer from 1973 to 1981. He was young, talented, creative and an asset to every company he ever worked for. |
A young Larry Vrba thrilled to be working at Miriam Haskell Jewelry. | Larry says, "This wonderful old photo of Bertl, my assistant in the mid-1970s at Haskell, is sent to you so you will vibrate with envy at that tray brimming with those gorgeous 12mm pearls, today worth hundreds and hundreds of dollars!" She was also assistant to Frank Hess, the first head designer for Haskell. | Larry, Bertl and other Haskell employees. |
Larry with Donna on his right and Bertl on his left, taken in 1972. He wears a Hess Star brooch and on the wall behind Bertl is a Women’s Wear Daily ad for jewelry he designed at Castelcliff. Also in the background on the wall is a chart showing the finding of the regal brooch shown at right. >> | HASKELL/VRBA this fabulous portrait pin was made for a Broadway play by Larry Vrba when he was the designer for Miriam Haskell Jewelry. There was more regal-looking jewelry made for the same play, and I dream of finding other pieces. (Seen in Christie Romero’s "Warman’s Jewelry, 2nd Ed, page 195.) View View #H10012 | Bertl Groll, long time sample maker at Miriam Haskell Jewelry and assistant to the head Haskell designers from Frank Hess on. |
HASKELL blue and green glass bead and poured glass brooch and 14-16" necklace using German parts, designed by Larry Vrba for the buyer at Sakowitz, who loved blue and green in combination. This group is circa 1970. The set can be seen in "Haskell Jewelry" by Gordon & Pamfiloff, page 221. View View #H20738 | HASKELL blue and green glass bead and poured glass brooch and 14-16" necklace using German parts, designed by Larry Vrba for the buyer at Sakowitz, who loved blue and green in combination. The set can be seen in "Haskell Jewelry" by Gordon & Pamfiloff, page 221. View View #H20738 | HASKELL Vrba necklace and earrings in blue and green glass beads of unusual shapes, circa 1970. The necklace is 21" long with a 4" front drop and the earrings 1-3/4", all marked "Miriam Haskell". Designed by Larry Vrba for the buyer at Sakowitz, who loved blue and green in combination. According to Vrba, these pieces were made using German parts and there were originally several pieces to this line including a poured glass butterfly brooch. View View View #H33205 |
HASKELL Egyptian scarab motif aqua, blue and orange 2-5/8" brooch designed by Larry Vrba circa 1972-4. Larry says thousands of these were made because this was an extremely well-received group which stayed in the line for about 2 years due to it’s popularity. That is a long time, as many pieces from that era were only sold for one season. The set can be seen in "Haskell Jewelry" by Gordon & Pamfiloff, page 220, and in Cera’s "Jewels of Miriam Haskell" page 198. View #H22991 | VRBA Lawrence (Larry) Vrba Egyptian pendant necklace with a 25-1/2" chain with a 5" by 2-3/4" pendant. This is in the same style as the Egyptian line he did for Miriam Haskell only larger. View View View #K32767 | HASKELL gold tone bracelet with sphinx, 8-3/4" total length with band 7/8" and sphinx 1-5/8" by 1-1/4". View #H32768 |
| HASKELL Larry Vrba design green marbled bakelite drop necklace with gold tone twist chain circa 1975, chain 18" and entire pendant portion 4". View #H64889 | |
Miriam Haskell showcase, 1970s. | Miriam Haskell showcase, 1970s. | Miriam Haskell showcase, 1973. View |
Miriam Haskell showcase, 1970s. | Miriam Haskell showcase, 1973. View | Miriam Haskell showcase, 1970s. |
Miriam Haskell showcase, 1970s. | Miriam Haskell showcase, 1970s. | Miriam Haskell showcase, 1970s. |
Vrba designs for CASTLECLIFF | Larry worked at Castlecliff from about 1970-72. He designed several very successful lines including a pre-Columbian look. That look came out with glass stones in the first season some natural stones in the second. The glass elements were made by a bead company originally called "Jewelry of Four Seasons", which Castlecliff bought and owned for 4-5 years. Beads were melted to form the lovely centers of this line of jewelry. Vrba tells of going to the Museum of Natural History and purchasing a few pieces of jewelry from which he designed historically inspired motifs, cut up and reassembled. Also included were pieces inspired by of Native American and historic motifs. Castlecliff manufactured their own jewelry on 17th Street in New York City and their showroom was at 366 5th Avenue in a great jewelry area and across the street from B. Altman. Castlecliff had it own designers, model makers and sales people and made good quality costume jewelry which got the attention of many in the fashion world. |
CASTLECLIFF pendant with Aztec inspired pendant necklace with blue glass center and burgundy, blue and green enamel, 16" chain and 3" pendant, circa 1973. This wonderful piece was designed by Larry Vrba during his time at Castlecliff. Larry Vrba designed for Castlecliff, was head designer for Miriam Haskell, and now does his own wonderful lines of jewelry. He says the lovely center poured glass part of this brooch was made from a melted glass bead from the bead company which Castlecliff owned at the time. Here is a B. Altman & Co. advertisement from New York Times, January 16th, 1973, for this style. View View #X35390 | CASTLECLIFF pendant designed by Larry Vrba during his time there, circa 1973. Aztec motif in burgundy and green enamel in textured Russian gold tone circa 1970, 4" pendant on a 16" chain. Larry Vrba designed for Castlecliff, was head designer for Miriam Haskell, and now does his own wonderful lines of jewelry. He says the lovely center poured glass part of this brooch was made from a melted glass bead from the bead company which Castlecliff owned at the time. Here is a B. Altman & Co. advertisement from New York Times, January 16th, 1973, for this style. ViewView #X35391 | CASTLECLIFF belt with a Native American design by Larry Vrba, 33" by 3" front by 1-1/4" back. View View #X34689 |
New York Times advertisement, January 16th, 1973. Pre-Columbian and ethnic inspired designs by Larry Vrba for Castlecliff. According to Larry, the gorgeous glass centers were melted from beads from Castlecliff’s own bead factory. | CASTLECLIFF Vrba designed brooch with American Indian motif, blue, burgundy and green enamel in textured Russian gold tone circa 1970, 3-1/4".
Larry Vrba designed for Castlecliff, Miriam Haskell, and now does his own wonderful lines of jewelry. He says the lovely center poured glass part of this brooch was made from a melted glass bead from the bead company which Castlecliff owned at the time. Here is a B. Altman & Co. advertisement from New York Times, January 16th, 1973, for this style. View View #X33541 | CASTLECLIFF Larry Vrba designed ethnic inspired pendant of orange, blue aqua and red marquis surrounding a center white glass oval all set in gold tone, 32" heavy chain and 3-1/3" total length pendant. View View #X61252 |
CASTLECLIFF Myan or Aztec inspired jewelry designed by Larry Vrba. | CASTLECLIFF Larry Vrba designed ethnic inspired pendant of orange, blue aqua and red marquis surrounding a center white glass oval all set in gold tone, circa 1970, 32" heavy chain and 3-1/3" total length pendant. Larry Vrba designed for Castlecliff, Miriam Haskell, and now does his own wonderful lines of jewelry. Here is a B. Altman & Co. advertisement from New York Times, January 16th, 1973, for this style. ViewView #X61252 | CASTLECLIFF American Indian inspired pendants by Larry Vrba B. Altman advertisement.. |
CASTLECLIFF Asian style gold tone pendant necklace with blue molded glass inserts of butterflies and flowers, 16" chain 2-3/4" pendant. This was designed by Larry Vrba during his time at Castlecliff. View View #X61734 | CASTLECLIFF pendant with cobalt blue glass center, 3" pendant on a 16" chain. View #X33746 | CASTLECLIFF pendant with Aztec inspired pendant necklace with blue glass center and burgundy, blue and green enamel, 30" chain and 2-7/8" pendant. This wonderful piece was designed by Larry Vrba during his time at Castlecliff. View #X33808 |
Vrba Today | In 1981 Larry Vrba left Miriam Haskell Jewelry, going to work for Les Bernard Jewelry. Larry Vrba had goods in Dillard’s for 3 seasons in the 1980’s, too. In about 1983 began his own jewelry line, creating strong three-dimensional, colorful and large pieces. Among the customers for his own "Lawrence Vrba" jewelry can be counted the Broadway theater (jewelry for Hairspray, tiaras and scepters for Wicked and many more), Metropolitan Opera, shops, boutiques and collectors. His line is being shown at Bergdorf Goodman, and the most recent Broadway shows for which he has made jewelry are "Hairspray", "Exit the King", "Blythe Spirit" with Angela Lansbury and the revival of "Lend Me a Tenor". As one of the most respected contemporary jewelry makers around, his line has remained successful and in demand for over 50 years. Larry is that unusual combination of the creative talent and a great mind for business. He now works in his own studio creating on a daily basis. |
Larry Vrba and friend at home. | Just one shot of the millions of vintage stones Larry has in his collection. These stones are often the source of his inspiration. | Larry’s grandparent’s wedding, November 1907 |
VRBA carved jade butterfly surrounded by art glass cabochons and semi-precious stones 5-strand necklace, 20" by 4-1/4" with brooch and dangle earrings 2-1/3". View View View #K32959 | Larry and Jane at a jewelry convention. | VRBA red poured glass cabochons and rhinestones necklace and earrings with red faceted glass beads and red and clear rhinestones, lush and lovely, necklace 16-19" with a 3" front drop and earrings 2-1/2". One of Larry’s best! View #G60807 |
VRBA green glass leaves and pastel beads dress clip, 6". ViewView #K23629 | VRBA bracelet with yellow glass Buddha, red, purple and topaz colored rhinestones, hinged, 7" by 1-1/4" with matching earrings. View View #G60728 | VRBA necklace with ivory carved Oriental center piece, ivory- and carnelian-colored glass beads with golden rhinestone roundelles, caramel, blue and green cabochons and rhinestones, 17" by 4" front drop. View #K32971 |
VRBA brooch, Italian 1930s blue glass flower petals and green pressed glass leaves flower brooch, 5". View View #K31519 | VRBA brooch, pastel blue rhinestones and artificial pearl flowers and tendrils set in gold tone, like a tapestry, 5". This is absolutely lovely, like a Haskell in look, only huge! View View #K31473 | VRBA brooch comprised of Italian 1930s pink glass flower petals and green pressed glass leaves flower brooch with clear rhinestone accents, 4-1/2". View View #K31476 |
VRBA brooch, real Textile Cone sea shell with green Italian glass leaves, orange carved plastic shell (from the Nettie Rosenstein collection), mother-of-pearl buttons, coral glass beads, clear and yellow rhinestones set in gold tone, 4" by 4-1/2". View #K31248 | VRBA brooch, real sea shell (Lazarus Jewel Box that has been polished down to the mother-of-pearl) with artificial graduated hue stick coral, aqua glass beads and pink and yellow rhinestones set in gold tone flower brooch, 5". View View View #K31246 | VRBA brooch, real Tiger Cowry sea shell with green Italian glass leaves, aqua glass molded beads, coral beads and clear rhinestones set in gold tone, 4-5/8". View #K31247 |
VRBA basket brooch, seed pearl body, orange and aqua molded glass flowers, mother-of-pearl flowers, clear rhinestones, 4" by 3". View #K32710 | VRBA ivory Asian face brooch with jade, cinnabar, rhinestone and seed bead headdress and collar and lapis-blue colored cabochons, 6-3/4". View View View #X28580 | VRBA contemporary faux netsuke set with pink and clear rhinestones in the 1940’s Hobe style. View #K22165 |
VRBA pink rhinestones candle in greens brooch and earrings with golden, green and red accents. View #K11018 | VRBA Christmas tree brooch with topaz rippled glass oval rhinestone with green and clear rhinestone accents and candles and artificial pearls, 4-1/2". View #K29359 | VRBA faux hematite, yellow and pink rhinestones 7-1/2" by 1-1/4" bracelet and 1-1/3" earrings. View View #K23621 |
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