Léa Stein
Vintage Online Are Proud Suppliers of Authentic Léa Stein Jewellery Direct From Léa Stein Paris
Léa Stein (born 1931) is a French artist and accessories maker, known for her compressed plastic buttons, brooches and bracelets. She is often hailed as the most notable and innovative designer of plastic jewellery of the 20th century. You may have seen people wearing the wonderful brooches or pins of Léa Stein and not known anything of this wonderful Parisian designer. Léa Stein began producing her unique range of jewellery during the 1960’s when her husband, Fernand Steinberger, came up with a process of laminating layers of Rhodoid (cellulose acetate sheets) with interesting colours and textures. The layers of Rhodoid were often layered with lace or special coloured processes and then cut into shapes for various designs of pins, bracelets, earrings and shaped decorative objects. The most easily recognisable Léa Stein pin is the fox with its looped tail. One of the most famous of the female heads was based on “Joan Crawford” and is sometimes referred to as “Carmen”. Her jewellery is hard to find and highly collectable. All our pieces are 100% authentic - please beware of copies!