SOLD Josephine Baker Brooch - by Lea Stein of Paris - Also Known as “LIDO” RARE

With this remarkable brooch Lea Stein pays homage to Josephine Baker with a stunning image of the dancer which shows how she looked during the height of her fame in the Art Deco era.  What a celebration of a remarkable woman who had so many talents by another remarkable woman of talent!  More about Josephine Baker and Lea Stein later but here is the necessary information about this brooch.

The brooch shows the face with distinctive sleek, black, bobbed hairstyle and the wide eyed smile of the famous Josephine Baker.  The over-sized earrings, which have layers and layers of orange and white, are classic Lea Stein and they suit our icon so well.  I wonder if the ladies ever met? Both have France as their homeland and both have put France on the artistic map for sure.

The brooch measures 2.5 inches by 1.5 inches at its widest points. Colours include Black, Gold, Tango Orange, Caramel Brown, White, Silver and Red.  The distinctive gold dots of the eye make up, the white on the mouth and eyes and the red lips have been created with a hand painted finish; just for the record under a lens the white paint looks slightly worn but I think it is just the way it has been applied.  All the other elements and contrasts have been worked in layers with cut work to enhance them. This brooch is a superb example of the techniques used by Lea Stein in her jewellery - it has layers of Rhodoid and the layering and curving of this material is used to great effect here.  I have seen this brooch on a few other websites where those posting have claimed it took more than a year to design, I am sure they are correct as it is intricate and perfect!  To the back we have a white metal pin with guarded roll over style clasp and the all important LEA STEIN PARIS signatures.

I was lucky enough to secure two pins in this rare style; one I have kept for myself and this one will no doubt delight another!

JOSEPHINE BAKER - A Little about her

Josephine Baker was an American-born dancer and singer who symbolised the beauty and vitality of Black American culture. She was born to a poor family but worked hard,learned to dance and sing and ended up taking Paris by storm in the 1920s when went on to become one of the most vibrant and original music hall entertainers in France. At this time the French were interested in American jazz and all things exotic. Josephine Baker travelled to Paris to perform in La Revue Nègre at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.  The French audiences adored her Danse Sauvage, in which she wore only a feather skirt. But perhaps her most famous dance was at the Folies Bergère music hall, where she danced wearing little more than a skirt made of bananas! The show was extremely popular with Parisian audiences and Josephine’s talents led to her being one of the most enjoyed and well paid performers in Europe at that time.

There are so many more things to know about Josephine’s courage and achievements so do look into her story a little more if you are interested.

JEWELLERY DETAILS

Designer or Brand: Lea Stein, Paris

Condition: Excellent - Just note the comment re paint work at eyes and mouth - doesn't detract and is exactly the same on the brooch I kept for myself. Just the hand finished nature of the piece. 

Decade: Current

Era: Contemporary Retro

Type: Brooch

Material: Plastic Laminate Rhodoid 

Subject: Josephine Baker, Dancing  Girl 

Colours:  Black, Gold, Tango Orange, Caramel Brown, White, Silver and Red.