From
Helen:
"Hi, Jo-Ann! I am wondering if you can tell
me how you identify Julianna ? Are your pieces marked
D & E?"
Answer:
Who
Is D&E?
D&E, (the producer of Juliana Jewelry) did not
mark most of their pieces. DeLizza and Elster was
the name of the company that manufactured jewelry
for as many as 800 different companies including
Accessocraft, Weiss, Alice Caviness, Ciro, Celebrity,
Capri, Carol Duplaise, House of Ivana, Hobe', House
of Schrager, Hattie Carnegie, Kenneth J. Lane, Kramer,
Karu, Mimi Di N, 1928, Park Lane, Pakula, YSL and
Sarah Coventry. Apparently, they did start a company
called "Juliana" (it was thought to be
just a specific line before). These pieces were
not marked either but were instead labeled with
a removable hangtag. Company owner Frank DeLizza
has stated that the Juliana company was in production
for two years from 1967-1968 and was not very successful.
He has also said that a large percentage of items
being sold on the net as Juliana are in fact not
and that he would prefer that the term D&E be
used when speaking of his jewelry. Frank DeLizza
is still very much alive today and I have personally
spoken with him through e-mail to positively identify
pieces of jewelry that I've had as being produced
by D&E.
Lines
Similar to Juliana
DeLizza and Elster also produced jewelry with similar
design elements which had different signatures.
If you like the look that has been coined as "Juliana",
be on the lookout for items signed "Tara"
as well as items with a hangtag that reads "Gloria."
New
Information Makes Identification More Challenging
Identifying
Juliana pieces has become very difficult in the
last little while due to information that is being
uncovered by an online Juliana research group. Just
when Juliana enthusiasts think they know what to
look for in identifying pieces, it seems that another
hurdle is placed in their way. It has been documented
that Frank DeLizza has stated that Juliana pieces
are not necessarily the majorly glitzy pieces we
have come to recognize as belonging to that particular
line which makes identification all that much more
difficult.
So
How Do I Identify Jewelry Produced by D&E Then?
As
it now stands, collectible D&E jewelry is being
identified by dealers and collectors in one of two
ways; knowledge of construction, style, and design
or by asking Mr. DeLizza himself. However, keep
in mind that this information may change over time
as the research evolves.
Elements
of D&E Jewelry
*
It is important to note that Frank DeLizza has confirmed
that there were no design elements exclusive to
the Juliana line.
