Rennaisance Man - Kenneth Jay Lane

The Current issue of The New York Social Diary has a fascinating interview with costume jewelry icon Kenneth Jay Lane.

After spending decades at the forefront of costume jewelry design he has been called, among other things, "the hottest costume jewelry designer around," "the most famous American fantasy jewelry designer of the twentieth century." and "Jewelry's Living Legend". Lane graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1954, and worked as an art director at Vogue.

His residence is as rich and luxurious as his designs.

It is filled to the brim with treasures and mementos that have undoubtedly inspired many of his designs.

A huge array of framed artwork and an impressive book collection adorn every available space in the room.

Collections and keepsakes are carefully placed on tabletops and shelves.


Back to back settees center the room and are lit by twin hanging fixtures. The room reeks of intellectual and artistic pursuit. I would love to get a close up look at some of those prized possession. I am sure each piece has a fascinating story behind it.



Special items are lit individually and others are flooded with ambient light from multiple fixtures in the room.

His trademark jungle themes flow throughout the room as does a liberal dosing of Turkish and Indian accents.



You can see the same influences at work in his jewelry. A golden salamander perched atop a white cuff.
Another cuff with a black and white crystal snake.

Gold Bamboo Bangles
A Black Enamel Flowered Ring

Red Coral Cuff with Pearls.


Ebony Bangle with a Gold Cartouche.


A Gold Cuff with Crystal Star.

Opulent Turquoise and Ruby ring.