This is a vintage signed Monet gold tone dark green, light green and clear chaton rhinestone frog brooch pin. The brooch measures approximately 2 1/4" long x 1 3/4" wide, and is in excellent vintage condition with a good working rollover safety clasp.
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YOU ARE BUYING VINTAGE PRE-OWNED JEWELRY THAT MAY NOT BE PERFECT. PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION, LOOK AT PICTURES AND SIZES CAREFULLY. ALSO, PLEASE READ MY SHOP POLICIES BEFORE BUYING REGARDING REFUNDS, EXCHANGES, SHIPPING INSURANCE, AND OUR DISCLAIMER REGARDING POSTAL LOSS, THEFT AND DAMAGE FOR NON-INSURED ITEMS.
*****Please also visit our other shop Tall Pines Trading Post at www.etsy.com/shop/tallpinestradingpost for quality collectibles, vintage housewares, and vintage sterling silver southwestern and mexican jewelry and other vintage jewelry.*****
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History:
The Monocraft business is said to have commenced in approximately 1927 by brothers Michael and Joseph Chernow, first based in Brooklyn, New York USA. Monograms were a huge trend in the 1920s and 30s and Monocraft honed in on this by launching "Initials by Monocraft" that targeted car owners looking to personalise their vehicles with decals which quickly developed into metal initials. They made as many alphabetical letter combinations as possible and developed a patented metal crest for cars with interchangeable letters.
The Great Drepression of the 1929 forced the business to take a new direction due to the car dealerships and owners not being able to afford initializing their vehicles. Their new target was handbag department stores, where handbags were personalised at the time of purchase. This business was a huge success and the Monocraft products were greatly sought after due to their superior quality and craftmanship.
In 1937 Monet jewelry was launched and Monocraft continued as the parent company. The brothers were determined to produce finely crafted pieces with top quality materials that were affordable for all woman. The results, some of the most beautifully designed and constructed pieces you will find in the market to date and the quality is second to none with the Monet pieces of the 1930s - 1970s standing the test of time.
Monet jewelry was so popular in the 1960s and 70s that they were not able to meet the demand of consumers and the business was able to be selective with who carried their lines, choosing the more upscale department stores.
After the passing of Joseph Chernow in 1966, Michael searched for a new business partner and in 1968 signed with General Mills. Many new products and fashion lines were created and the business expanded considerably; by 1979 they were international. Various new lines were released in the early 1980s that were seen as "fashion forward" and they also acquired the Yves St. Laurent license for costume jewelry which saw some stunning creations hit the high end stores from August 1982.
By 1985 the Monet company had seen many changes and the once family orientated business, was no more. The original Chernow family members were gone as were many of the original team members and the General Mills corporate management style had taken over. The business continued to develop with sales growing from approximately $8 million in the early 1960s to approximately $110 million by the early 1980s. However, other divisions within the business were not performing so well and the decision was made by General Mills to focus on what they knew best, food.
In November 1985 Monet became part of the Crystal Brands Apparel Group along with two apparel lines that were not profitable. In order to increase profits the head of the company purchased two costume jewellery lines from Hallmark, they were Trifari and Marvella and the three companies went on to become one of the largest costume jewellery makers in the world. However, due to the acquisition of many other apparel lines over time, the Crystal Brands Group debt grew larger and larger with the jewelry lines unable to carry them over the line and in 1994 Crystal Brands filed for bankruptcy.
The company was renamed the Monet Group in 1994 once acquired by the CBJG Acquisition Group and existing management tried relaunching the brand, and even signed fashion designer Christian Lacroix in 1995 for a 5 year licensing agreement. In 1996 Cynthia Rowley was signed on to design pieces inspired by vintage Monet from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Unsuccessful in their attempt to recapture the success of the past, the business once again went into bankruptcy in 1996; it was later bought out by Liz Claiborne in 2000, who said that whilst they had been in bankruptcy for the last 4 years, the company was still making a profit.
The business continued to produce the Monet "best sellers" and later signed a new fashion director, Tiffany Bausch, who set out to re-brand and create more pieces inspired from the late 1950s to late 70s where the brand was at its peak. Whilst the brand was still successful, Liz Claiborne sold the U.S. rights to the Monet brand (as well as its name sake brand) to JC Penney in August 2012.
