Vtg 80's Wendy Gell Dolphin Abalone Hair Barrette Swarovski Crystal Rivoli

Description

RARE ORIGINAL VINTAGE 1980'S
HAIR CLIP / BARRETTE BY ICONIC  NEW YORK FASHION JEWELRY DESIGNER WENDY GELL
DELIGHTFUL DIVING DOLPHIN OCEAN THEME
MADE OF THIN CURVED NATURAL ABALONE SHELL, PLASTIC WHITE DOLPHIN CURIO, SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS, "RIVOLI" STONE, AND OTHER GLASS AND FOUND ELEMENTS ON STAINLESS STEEL FRENCH BARRETTE MECHANISM
MEASURES APPROXIMATELY: 3 3/8" LONG X JUST UNDER 1" WIDE
WEIGHT: .85 OZ
CONDITION: GOOD FOR A PIECE OF THIS AGE. MISSING ONE COBALT BLUE CRYSTAL "LEAF" WHICH CAN BE EASILY REPAIRED. SLIGHT NICK IN ONE CORNER OF SHELL.  BARRETTE MECHANISM IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.
PLEASE EMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS!
Through the Seventies and on into the Eighties, Wendy Gell’s designs were on the cover of Vogue and in thousands of editorials in magazines all over the world. Wendy created sequined Disney characters, jeweled Roger Rabbits and his friends, Wizard of Oz jewelry, and masks from The Phantom of the Opera. She designed special pieces for Bill Blass, Oscar de laRenta, and Louis Dell’Olio. Her company specialized in a “different” look that is very whimsical and unique. Many of the fabulous large cuff bracelets were one-of-a-kind or part of a limited edition.
Her worldwide client list includes celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Isabella Rossilini, and Cher. Wendy Gell jewelry can also be found in the private collections of: Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John (designed sunglasses for him), Hillary Clinton, the late Andy Warhol and Princess Diana.
Now Wendy is back, designing not only jewelry but paintings and various gifts as well. She creatively adorns mirrors, dolls, goblets and more with the same pop art style she is known for.
In addition, Wendy hopes to share a bit about herself with you through the pages of this site. Her experiences are a joy to read as she unravels, through writings and pictures, the incredible story of an artist made famous by her imagination, skill, and playful character.
Wendy was president and designer of Wendy Gell Jewelry, Inc., in the 70s and 80s, an international fashion and costume jewelry business based in New York City and Key West. After a long absence, her encrusted and whimsical designs are again turning up and turning heads on Wendy’s website wendygell.com and galleries  across the country, on the cable airways of QVC television, and coming in May at the Crown Jewels in Las Vegas at the Monte Carlo and Mandaley Resorts Casino. Her visionary jeweled panels and canvases are re-creating an ancient Byzantine artform.
Working as a song writer, she was looking for a new creative way to make a living and  invented the “Wristy” cuff bracelet in the early 1970’s, and crystal cluster earrings which found quick popularity. Her designs were marketed in Asia, Europe, South America, and the US, worn by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, the late Princess Diana, Michael Jackson, and First Lady Hillary Clinton.  Her jewelry adorned the cover of  Vogue nine times as well as Paris vogue, Essence, Vanity Fair, and many more magazines. Her one-of-a-kind pieces were collected by Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, Liberace, Elton John, Prince, and Isabella Rossellini.
In 1985 she became a licensee for the Walt Disney company producing highly collected Disney Character jewelry and art. Her jewelry productions were scheduled with the release of such feature films as Dick Tracy and Who Framed Roger Rabbit as well as the 50th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz and the Broadway show, Phantom of the Opera.
Wendy toured the USA in the 80’s appearing in newspapers and on TV all over America, including the Oprah Winfrey show, Good Morning America, Elsa Clench “Style” and MTV.