Reja

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Reja

Solomon Finkelstein, founder of Reja, started his first retail jewelry company in NYC in 1939, called Deja Costume Jewelry, Inc. Du Jay, Inc. took Deja to court over tradename similarity and won in October, 1940 (Deja banned from using the name after April 1, 1941). As of January 1941, the company name change to Reja was announced, prompted (as stated in Brunialti, A Tribute to America, pg 38) that it was easy to change the "D" to an "R" on the stamped signature. Reja operated from 1941 through December 1953, when the company declared bankruptcy.

Deja jewelry is characterized by enamel figurals, usually over potmetal. Marks used by Deja include Deja, Deja Original and Deja Reg.

Reja jewelry is extremely high quality, and the company released a number of collections, among which are the Africana series and the Gardenesque series. Both included wonderful figurals of enamel on sterling, offset by colorful rhinestones, moonstones and pave clears. There was an entire series of enamel fruits, nuts and vegetables, some on potmetal and others on sterling. Reja had a number of pieces with pale blue or rose pink moonstone cabs. Marks used by Reja include Reja Reg., Reja, and finally Reja Inc. Some pieces are also marked Sterling.

Album by Cathy Gordon. Photos by Cathy Gordon. 1 - 59 of 59 Total. 48116 Visits.

Sign the Guestbook. Displaying 5 of 28 entries.

Thank you for your extensive dedication to this site. It’s been instrumental in helping me learn more about vintage designers. I actually have a Reja necklace from my mother in laws estate that I’m restoring. (Replace stones and seed pearls etc.) Thankfully the finish, a mix of silver and gold tone, is still in excellent condition. Thanks again for all your work!
- David Stone, Sat, 4 Sep 2021 9:36AM

I have posted a pic to the above website box. Hoping you can give me your opinion on this piece - if it is a Reja - it is not signed but sure looks as if it could be from same family. Thank u - beautiful work!
- Julie Holcomb | https://share.icloud.com/photos/0ViRihIYEtruBpg2y214IwC-A, Thu, 28 May 2020 7:01PM

Thanks, I used your site to identify my wife's brooch. It is the 1947 willow tree with moonstones and the red rhinestones. She was given it as a gift years ago. It is beautiful and we are curious as to a value?
- Eldon McWhorter, Mon, 8 Sep 2014 7:54PM

Hello Kathy, I recieved your response to my post regarding a lovely REJA Brooch I acquired in a lot in Pasadena, CA. years back. I relayed the story of what I believe to be quite the stylish couple on the town. Bejeweled from head to toe with
A lovely collection of stylish designed pieces elegant and lovley,others whimsical and cheerful. You sugested checking a few websites for pricing my REJA Brooch. From the Gardenesque Series,it is the piece pictured at the very top left of the Full page display #19. It seems to be the largest one with all of the adornments including the green enameling on the long leaves.The condition is nearly perfect. One tiny clear stone
missing. Almost invisible to the eye and also tiny pit on black pot.Thes are not even a distraction from the brillance and colorful display of this 'WOW' Flowerpot Brooch. It is marked 'REJA STERLING' (Gardenesque Series / Ad 1947)
I have a basic idea of the value in this fine condition.perhaps you might know of a store that has this piece as I only have seen other smaller less ornate and missing stones or needing repairs. I am sending you some pictures of this delightful and unique art piece. I'm really anxious to get your feedback.
Also, I would very much like to give you the first chance to see it and if you are interested I would be more that thrilled to have it go to a person with your passion and appreciation
for these wonderful pieces of art and fashion history. I would
be completely open to working to an amount that pleases us both. I've been recently laid off my job as a in-house costumer in the business of Motion Picture and T.V. Production
Wardrobe Rentals and figured it was time to let go of some of my favorite things. I soo appreciate your time and hope you will consider taking a special interest in this sparkling
array of floral splendor. WOW, That even exited ME

One more thing to add : I have other pieces you might
appreciate seeing (being a bit unusual.) Thank-you,Thank-You,

Debbie Watt
Glendora. CA.
(626) 914-4143

Temp: E-Mail Address
pspapb@juno.com
- DEBRA WATT, Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:15AM

Thank you for the learning experience. It really helped in my research on an antique brooch
- Miss Donnas Antiques, Fri, 12 Mar 2010 2:30PM

More guestbook entries...

1 Reja Africana ad from 1946. From top to bottom: Ubangi, Witch Doctor, Nubian Head (missing Congo Belle).	2 Reja Africana series. There were additional pieces. All are enamel on goldwashed sterling. Top is Africana Ubangi earrings with fur clip underneath. On left is Africana Witch Doctor and on the right is Africana Congo Belle.	3 Africana Congo Belle 1946. Sterling covered with gold wash, enamel and rhinestones.	4 Africana Ubangi 1946. Sterling with gold wash, moonstones, silver wings, enamel, rhinestones.
5 Reja Africana Nubian Head 1946 Extremely hard to find Nubian Head from the Africana series done by Reja in 1946. Enamel over goldwashed sterling.	6 Reja Balinese Masks, 1945. The Queen is on the left, King on the right. These fur clips are goldwashed sterling with enamel and interesting colored rhinestones. The stones in the crowns came in a variety of colors.	7 Reja Medusa pin and earrings from 1946. Wonderful enamel over goldwashed sterling with pave set rhinestones for hair. You will also see this set with gold faces.	8 Reja Mandarin Chinese pin and earrings 1946 Goldwash over sterling.
9 Reja Punchinello, 1946. Demonic looking clown fur clip of goldwashed sterling, enamel and red rhinestone eyes.	10 Two Reja jesters. Goldwashed sterling, enamel and rhinestones.	11 Deja Indian Mask, 1939-40. Goldwashed sterling with baguette rhinestones in his turban.	12 Reja archer. Goldwashed sterling.
13 Reja Jack-in-the-Box pin and earrings from 1947. Goldwashed sterling and red , clear rhinestones.	14 Jack-in-the-Box ad from 8/15/1946.	15 Reja Hobby Horse, 1946. Goldwashed sterling, pave crystals and the rose pink glass cabs used in many Reja pieces.	16 Reja pins and bracelet showing the moonstone cabs. All goldwashed sterling. The bottom pin and bracelet show an atomic theme.
17 Reja Gardenesque ad from 1947.	18 Reja Gardenesque series showing the variety of pins that were available. There are others that I haven't managed to collect, including a willow tree. Earrings are very hard to find. The pieces came in sterling without the goldwash or goldwashed. The pins and earrings in the bottom row may not be from Gardenesque, but have similar vases.	19 Gardenesque vase, 1947 in black enamel.	20 Gardenesque vase, 1947 in cream enamel.
21 Gardenesque vase, 1947 with an oriental feel.	22 Gardenesque vase, 1947 in silver with enameled flowers.	23 Reja willow tree pin from the Gardenesque series produced in 1947. Gold wash over sterling with tiny rhinestone leaves and a base of glass moonstone cabs and pink rhinestones. This is only the 3rd time I have seen this pin.	24 Reja hand, 1949-1950. Sterling with goldwash.
25 Reja peanuts. Potmetal and enamel.	26 Reja pineapple.	27 Reja strawberries.	28 Reja peas in a pod.
29 Reja radishes.	30 Reja green and red peppers.	31 Reja scallions.	32 Reja tomato.
33 Deja enamel flowers on potmetal plus one Reja.	34 Deja blue and white flowers pin.	35 Deja flower basket.	36 Deja poppies?
37 Deja dogwood.	38 Reja sunflower.	39 Deja white daisy.	40 Deja yellow flowers.
41 Large Deja enameled flower bouquet.	42 Deja tussy mussy (acts as a flower vase).	43 Back of the tussy mussy.	44 Inside view showing area for the flowers (or whatever). It holds water.
45 Deja pave leaf fur clips.	46 Reja feather pin with large unfoiled amethyst glass stone.	47 Reja sunflower. Goldwashed sterling.	48 Reja sterling bow with large unfoiled aqua glass stone.
49 Reja big bird with a Deco look. Pin is over 4" long.	50 Reja curled fish. Goldwashed sterling.	51 Reja walking fish. Looks like it crawled out of the primordial soup! Goldwashed sterling.	52 Reja enameled bird with pearl encrusted belly.
53 Reja enameled fish with pearls on his tail.	54 Reja enameled sailfish.	55 Reja gazelle, 1943. A wonderful goldwashed sterling gazelle with a Deco look.	56 For Valentine's Day. A Reja heart in goldwashed sterling.
57 Reja floral pin with large red glass stones and enamel stem and leaves.	58 Reja goldwashed sterling strawberries pin.	59 Rare carrots pin Reja Pot metal, enamel and rhinestones.

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