Napier Company (jewellery)
Encyclopedia
The Napier Company is an American
jewellery
manufacturing company, and was one of the first modern corporations in the United States.
in 1890, after the company sustained rapid growth in the previous decade. During World War I
(and again in World War II
), they ceased production of jewellery, and instead focussed on producing war-related items, such as medallions and medals.
Following World War I James H. Napier became the president of the company, and it became the Napier Bliss Company, finally taking the name by which it is now known, the Napier Company, in 1922. James Napier attended the 1925 World's Fair Exposition Internationale des Artes Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, and brought back with him many designs and influences from Parisian and European fashion. James Napier led the company from 1920 to 1960. In the 1950s, the Napier Company presented First Lady
Mamie Eisenhower
with a bracelet bearing an elephant design, which was reputedly one of her favorite pieces of jewellery, and which she wore often,http://www.vintagejewelryguide.com/printarticle25.html and the Napier Company gifted the contestants of the 1955 Miss America
Pageant with fashion jewellery.
In 1980, the company was bought by Victoria & Company. The plant in Meriden, Connecticut was closed by Victoria & Company on 15 October 1999. However, under the umbrella of Jones Apparel Group
, Napier jewellery is still being manufactured and distributed.
Josephine, Teresa, Frances, and Mary of the Nati family were known as the staple of the workforce during the Napier plant's final days.
motifs, such as cobra
s. In the 1950s, they produced fan jewellery. Napier Jewellery is notable for its simple, modern, geometric and floral designs. Some of the metalwork bears resemblance to Mexican and Scandinavian designs.http://www.antiquingonline.com/jewelry-designers2.htm#alphanapier
Following the sale of the company, jewellery produced by the Napier Company bore the name "Napier" in script, as opposed to the previously mentioned trademark.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jewellery
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
manufacturing company, and was one of the first modern corporations in the United States.
History
The Napier Company got its start in North Attleboro, Massachusetts 1875, under the name Whitney and Rice, manufacturing silver men's watch chains. In 1882, the company became known as Carpenter and Bliss, and shortly thereafter it had become the E. A. Bliss Company. The company relocated to Meriden, ConnecticutMeriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
in 1890, after the company sustained rapid growth in the previous decade. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(and again in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
), they ceased production of jewellery, and instead focussed on producing war-related items, such as medallions and medals.
Following World War I James H. Napier became the president of the company, and it became the Napier Bliss Company, finally taking the name by which it is now known, the Napier Company, in 1922. James Napier attended the 1925 World's Fair Exposition Internationale des Artes Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, and brought back with him many designs and influences from Parisian and European fashion. James Napier led the company from 1920 to 1960. In the 1950s, the Napier Company presented First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Mamie Eisenhower
Mamie Eisenhower
Mamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower was the wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and First Lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961.-Early life:...
with a bracelet bearing an elephant design, which was reputedly one of her favorite pieces of jewellery, and which she wore often,http://www.vintagejewelryguide.com/printarticle25.html and the Napier Company gifted the contestants of the 1955 Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
Pageant with fashion jewellery.
In 1980, the company was bought by Victoria & Company. The plant in Meriden, Connecticut was closed by Victoria & Company on 15 October 1999. However, under the umbrella of Jones Apparel Group
Jones Apparel Group
The Jones Group, Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is an American designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded clothing, shoes and accessories. Its headquarters are in New York City. The company also markets directly to consumers through their chain of specialty retail and value-based stores...
, Napier jewellery is still being manufactured and distributed.
Josephine, Teresa, Frances, and Mary of the Nati family were known as the staple of the workforce during the Napier plant's final days.
Designs
In the 1920s and 1930s, Napier produced necklaces and designs featuring EgyptianAncient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
motifs, such as cobra
Cobra
Cobra is a venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae. However, not all snakes commonly referred to as cobras are of the same genus, or even of the same family. The name is short for cobra capo or capa Snake, which is Portuguese for "snake with hood", or "hood-snake"...
s. In the 1950s, they produced fan jewellery. Napier Jewellery is notable for its simple, modern, geometric and floral designs. Some of the metalwork bears resemblance to Mexican and Scandinavian designs.http://www.antiquingonline.com/jewelry-designers2.htm#alphanapier
Trademark
From 1922 until its sale in 1980, all of the jewellery produced by the Napier company used the name "Napier" enclosed within a rectangle as its trademark.Following the sale of the company, jewellery produced by the Napier Company bore the name "Napier" in script, as opposed to the previously mentioned trademark.
External links
- A brief history of the company, and some examples of their work
- press release on the sale of Napier Company to Victoria & Company
- examples of jewellery and history of the Napier Company
- Another history of the Napier company
- An antique website, bearing a history of the Napier Company as well as a discussion of Napier designs