Vintage Napier Cream Lucite Fan Pendant Necklace with Faux Pearls — 1980s Signed Statement Piece

A Statement from America's Golden Age of Costume Jewelry

There's something undeniably confident about a Napier necklace. For over a century, the Napier Company set the standard for American costume jewelry — pieces that weren't pretending to be fine jewelry, but stood proudly on their own as beautifully designed, impeccably crafted fashion statements. This necklace is a perfect example of that philosophy. The centerpiece is a sculptural three-part pendant that draws the eye immediately: a graceful fan shape flanked by two tapered wing elements, all rendered in warm cream lucite and framed in polished gold-tone metal. Thin black enamel lines trace the edges, adding a graphic crispness that gives the design real visual presence. It's geometric but not cold — there's an organic quality to the fan's gentle fluting that softens the whole composition. The pendant hangs from a single strand of oversized cream faux pearls, each one smooth and lustrous, punctuated by small gold-tone spacer beads that catch the light. It's a classic Napier pairing: the bold architectural pendant grounded by the timeless elegance of pearls.

The Napier Legacy

The Napier Company's story stretches back to 1875, when it began life as Whitney & Rice in Attleboro, Massachusetts — the heart of America's jewelry manufacturing industry. By the 1880s it had become E.A. Bliss Co., and in 1920, when longtime employee James H. Napier took the helm and steered the company through financial hardship, the firm took his name. Operating from Meriden, Connecticut, the newly christened Napier Company pivoted from silver goods to fashion jewelry and never looked back. Over the decades that followed, Napier became synonymous with quality costume jewelry. In the 1950s, the company presented First Lady Mamie Eisenhower with an elephant bracelet that became one of her most-worn pieces. By the 1980s — the era of this necklace — Napier's pearl and lucite collections were at the height of their popularity, blending Art Deco geometry with the decade's love of bold, confident accessories. The script "Napier" mark on the reverse of this piece dates it to the late 1980s or early 1990s, after the company was acquired by Victoria & Co. and transitioned from its earlier block-letter signature to the flowing script form. The Napier Company closed its doors in 1999, making every signed piece a tangible artifact of an American jewelry tradition that spanned more than a century.

Design & Construction

• Pendant: Three-part sculptural fan/wing design in cream lucite with gold-tone metal framing and black enamel accent lines
• Strand: Single strand of large cream faux pearls (approx. 10–12mm) with gold-tone spacer beads
• Clasp: Fold-over clasp integrated into the pendant back; brushed gold-tone finish
• Mark: "Napier" in script on the reverse of the pendant
• Era: Circa late 1980s–early 1990s
• Materials: Gold-plated brass, lucite (molded resin), faux pearl, enamel

Condition Notes

Very good vintage condition. The gold-tone finish retains its warmth with only minimal surface wear. All faux pearls are present and intact, with consistent creamy luster and no discoloration or peeling. The lucite pendant elements show no chips, cracks, or clouding. Black enamel accents are complete and unfaded. The fold-over clasp operates smoothly and securely. Light wear consistent with a piece that is approximately 35 years old — but one that was clearly treasured by its previous owner.