L/N - Little Nemo
For many years the jewelry collecting community was in the dark as to what the initials LN stood for in L/N or L/N 25 (or other number) until one lucky person found a carded piece of jewelry that had both the L/N mark and Little Nemo. Like most companies, Little Nemo jewelry changed with the times but this brand is most known for its "Czech look" type pieces. Unfortunately no one has been able to ascertain, to my knowledge, what the numbers that sometimes follow L/N mean.
The jewelry was manufactured by Brier Manufacturing, located in Providence, RI, which was founded by Benjamin Brier and Sam Magid in 1913. The name "Little Nemo" came from a popular comic strip character of the time (please see next paragraph). The company became the 2nd largest jewelry manufacturer in the US, with only Coro being larger. While they manufactured their own lines under L/N and Little Nemo (and much of their production is unsigned, as most of it was simply carded/hang-tagged with their name), they also manufactured for other companies, such as Helena Rubenstein, Revlon, and Walt Disney. When the costume jewelry industry succumbed to the "no jewelry" look of the 1970's, Brier filed for bankruptcy, 65 years after its start. ( 2nd paragraph information courtesy of Susan at Eureka, I Found It) .
The name Little Nemo was taken from "Little Nemo in Slumberland", a cartoon strip that ran in the New York Herald and in the New York American between 1905 and 1926. Drawn by Winsor McCay, a man considered by many to be the greatest American cartoonist of his time, Little Nemo was based on McCay's son Robert, and was about a young boy's dream adventures. McCay was also an early film animator, with his first short, "Little Nemo" being made in 1911. McCay was an innovator in many aspects of cartooning and animation, and certainly other pioneers in animation filmmaking owe much to the genius of Winsor McCay.
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Description: Little Nemo Red and Clear Earrings - For collectors of L/N pieces, this is pretty unusual - a pair of earrings actually marked "Nemo". (Apparently most of the time the pieces were unmarked but carded with the Little Nemo name.) Pentagonal shaped earrings have a raised middle that looks kind of like a snowflake, paste set with clear rhinestones; lower layer is red square stones that alternate with clear rounds. Screwback findings, silvertone, 5/8" in diameter and about 1/4" deep. Good condition with one finding reattached. Originally not expensive but quite a collector's coup. Item: SE7-754 Price: $25.00 US Sorry, SOLD! |
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Description: L/N (Little Nemo) Patriotic Eagle with Olive Branch Brooch - This piece has a lot going for it - a 70+year old patriotic piece in a less often used theme than the more traditional flag pieces, and certainly not the usual Little Nemo piece. Red, white and blue enamel is great shape for age, with some dings on the head and right wing; stones are all there. 2 1/4" x 2" and 3 dimensional with each wing being separate and spaced, body is domed. Potmetal, silvertone. If you are a L/N or patriotic collector you will enjoy this piece. Item: SP1-433 Price: $59.50 US Sorry, SOLD! |
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Description: L/N 25 (Little Nemo) Stylized Floral with Green Cabs - Actually I am not certain what these would be considered because while these are cabochon shaped stones, they have a faceted pattern of small triangles that you can only really see when you rotate the piece; the facets are firepolished rather than sharp. Glass, faux jade look, with goldtone metal. At 3" x 1 3/4" this is among the largest of the L/N pieces. Excellent condition, with only slight plating wear to back. Item: SP7-458 Price: $39.50 US Sorry, SOLD! |
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Description: L/N (Little Nemo) Brooch in Pastels - Probably this company's best known and loved design, seen both with and without enameling on the florals (in this case, without). Rarely seen with pastel rhinestones. Potmetal with a pewtery finish. Domed oval shape, 2 1/8" x 1 7/8". I replaced one missing small stone, otherwise excellent original condition. Item: SP7-341 Price: $29.50 US Sorry, SOLD! |
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Description: L/N (Little Nemo) Brooch in Chalk White and Green - Here is the enameled version, but instead of rhinestones we have glass balls in opaque white. Potmetal with a pewtery finish. Domed oval shape, 2 1/8" x 1 7/8". Instead of smaller rhinestones at four points on the inner circle, there were apparently enameled balls - the balls are still there, the enamel is just pretty much gone. Enamel on florals is in good shape except worn off at the high points. Item: SP7-363 Price: $22.50 US Sorry, SOLD! |
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Description: L/N 25(Little Nemo) Floral with Madiera Topaz Rhinestones - Brass type setting with paste set rhinestones used in a floral pattern in the center as well as centering smaller buds around the perimeter of the piece. 3 1/4" x 2 1/4". Excellent condition, nice heft. This was made in several different colors stonewise. Item: SPRLS-642 Price: $29.50 US Sorry, SOLD! |
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