🕯️ Occult Philosophy −14%

Emmons(r) Fashion Magic Jewelry

✍️ Dippo, Cathryn
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$29.95 $35.00 Save $5.05 (14%)
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This comprehensive volume illuminates the fascinating history of Emmons Fashion Magic, the groundbreaking costume jewelry brand that revolutionized sales through home parties from 1949 to 1981. Celebrated for its quality and diverse aesthetics, Emmons pieces are now highly sought after by collectors. Featuring over 580 vibrant, full-color photographs, the book meticulously showcases more than 1,300 distinct designs, aiding in identification and valuation. Readers will discover intricate details on company marketing, design evolution, essential markings, and dating clues, making this an indispensable guide for any serious jewelry enthusiast.

🕯️
Occult Philosophy
🏛 Schiffer Publishing 📅 2005 📖 176 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780764321948
Fun Fact
This meticulously crafted volume stands as the definitive resource for Emmons Fashion Magic, excelling in its unparalleled visual catalog and granular detail on identification. While essential for collectors and historians of mid-century design, those seeking broad overviews of costume jewelry history might find its specific focus too narrow. It firmly establishes itself as the benchmark publication for Emmons, offering an invaluable contribution to the field of vintage jewelry scholarship and a must-have for enthusiasts.

📝 Description: Emmons(r) Fashion Magic Jewelry

Emmons Fashion Magic was the first jewelry to be sold at home parties, between 1949 and 1981, preceding its sister company, Sarah Coventry. Known for its versatility and quality, Emmons jewelry is highly collectible today and deserves a place in all costume jewelry collections. 580 stunning, full-color photographs show, for the first time, the wide range of over 1,300 named designs in various materials and colors that has made Emmons fashion jewelry so popular. Here, over 1,700 jewelry items appear in groups arranged by their materials and colors, for easy identification. The markings and dating clues are discussed. Captions identify the design names, pertinent construction details, and values. Packed with details about the C. H. Stuart companies, their "showcases" (sales catalogs), and marketing via home fashion shows, this is the ultimate Emmons sourcebook and a must-have reference for all jewelry collectors.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
While this volume is a treasure trove for dedicated Emmons collectors, it may not suit casual browsers seeking narrative depth. Readers expecting a literary exploration of the era might find the focus on markings and valuation too technical. However, for those invested in the tangible history of costume jewelry, the comprehensive visual catalog is unparalleled. The detailed examination of design evolution offers unique insights into mid-century aesthetics. It is a functional reference guide rather than a leisure read, making it indispensable for appraisers but potentially dry for general history buffs who prefer storytelling over spec sheets.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book serves as an essential companion for serious collectors seeking to identify and value Emmons Fashion Magic pieces. It provides meticulous details on company marketing, design evolution, and dating clues that are often missing from general resources. Enthusiasts of vintage accessories will appreciate the over 580 vibrant photographs showcasing more than 1,300 distinct designs. The guide demystifies the brand’s legacy, helping readers understand the quality and diverse aesthetics that made these items highly sought after. It is particularly valuable for those looking to authenticate their collections or trace the history of home party sales in the jewelry industry.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
If you're a passionate collector of vintage costume jewelry, an antique dealer seeking expert identification tools, or simply fascinated by the evolution of mid-century fashion and direct sales strategies, this meticulously researched guide is an essential addition to your library.

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Esoterica Books editorial team

While this volume is a treasure trove for dedicated Emmons collectors, it may not suit casual browsers seeking narrative depth. Readers expecting a literary exploration of the era might find the focus on markings and valuation too technical. However, for those invested in the tangible history of costume jewelry, the comprehensive visual catalog is unparalleled. The detailed examination of design evolution offers unique insights into mid-century aesthetics. It is a functional reference guide rather than a leisure read, making it indispensable for appraisers but potentially dry for general history buffs who prefer storytelling over spec sheets.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Emmons pioneered home party sales for jewelry, offering high-quality, versatile designs that were both fashionable and accessible, setting a precedent for direct-to-consumer marketing in the mid-20th century.
The book features over 1,700 items organized by material and color, alongside detailed discussions of markings, construction, and dating clues, enabling precise identification and valuation for collectors.

📖 Who should read this

If you're a passionate collector of vintage costume jewelry, an antique dealer seeking expert identification tools, or simply fascinated by the evolution of mid-century fashion and direct sales strategies, this meticulously researched guide is an essential addition to your library.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Pioneering Sales Model

Explores how Emmons trailblazed the direct-to-consumer home party sales approach for jewelry, predating its sister company, Sarah Coventry. It details the "showcases" and "home fashion shows" that made Emmons a household name and shaped consumer buying habits in the mid-20th century.

Collecting & Identification

Offers invaluable resources for collectors, showcasing over 1,700 items grouped by material and color for easy recognition. The book meticulously covers crucial markings, construction details, and dating clues, enabling enthusiasts to accurately identify and value their treasured pieces.

Design Diversity & Quality

Celebrates the extensive range and enduring quality that define Emmons jewelry. With over 1,300 named designs presented through stunning photography, the volume highlights the brand's versatility in materials and colors, cementing its reputation for fashionable, collectible artistry across decades.

📜 Historical context

This volume situates Emmons Fashion Magic firmly within the mid-20th-century boom of costume jewelry and direct sales. Emerging in 1949, it represents a pivotal moment in American consumerism, preceding other home-party brands and shaping how fashion accessories were marketed and acquired. The book chronicles its journey until 1981, offering a vital snapshot of a bygone era in retail and design.

📚 Glossary

Home Parties
Costume Jewelry
Markings

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. Consider how the "home party" model revolutionized consumer access to fashion during the mid-20th century. What parallels exist in today's retail landscape?
  2. Reflect on the concept of "collectibility" in costume jewelry. What factors elevate a mass-produced item like Emmons into a sought-after antique?
  3. If you own any vintage jewelry, how might the detailed identification methods presented in this book enhance your appreciation or understanding of your own pieces?

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