Ostier, Inc., one of New York's leading jewelers dealing precious-stone jewelery of original design and superb custom craftsmanship, was closed in September of this year [1969], following the death of its co-founder, Oliver Ostier. The present sale offers the entire stock of this distinguished firm. All pieces are original designs of Marianne Ostier, co-founder with her late husband of the firm and an internationally famed designer of jewelery. Many pieces bear her signature plate.
Of the decision to close the business, Marianne Ostier said: With the passing of my husband, I have had to devote more and more of my efforts to administrative duties. These demands of my time can no longer be met without artistic compromise which to me is unacceptable.
Representing the third generation of court jewelers in Austria, Oliver Ostier came to America following the Anschluss of 1938. Shortly thereafter he founded the firm of Ostier, Inc., with his wife Marianne, a talented painter and sculptress as well as an artist in the design of jewelry.
Author of Jewels and the woman , the basic primer of the art of wearing jewelry, Marianne Ostier's designs became major jewelry fashions and classics of modern designed jewelry. She is repsonsible for numerous innovations, such as the pincushion clip, the famed skin pin and free-from jewelry; she pioneered in abstract designs for jewelry and, as a sculptress, brought a new dimension to her work in jewelry design. For many years, Mrs. Ostier won the Diamond U.S.A. Award and the Diamond International Award for design excellence. The first life-time member elected to the Diamonds-International Academy, the hall of fame for modern jewelry designers, she represented the United States at the Art in Precious Jewelry exhibition at the Finch College Museum of Art in 1966, which featured the work of the foremost designers of ten countries. Among the artists, in addition to Mrs. Ostier, were Georges Braques and Salvador Dali.
The exhibition and sale of Marianne Ostier Originals marks the end of an important chapter in the history of jewelry design. The catalogue of her oeuvres eloquently records her contribution toward advancing this art form.
Right: Park-Bernet No. 295-296:
Right:
Park-Bernet No. 319-324: