It didn’t matter that Marilyn F. Cooperman didn’t have any formal training when well-known American luxury jeweler Fred Leighton asked her to design jewelry. By then, she had written professionally about fashion, established her own clothing company, and built up so much New York City chutzpah that she could have made it anywhere.
When she was 20 years old, the Toronto-born Cooperman moved to New Zealand and wrote a newspaper column about fashion and beauty. In 1963, she relocated to New York City and opened her first clothing company, Max and Marilyn, where she sold Art Deco–inspired clothing to department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdale’s.
Cooperman designed a collection of resort wear for Fred Leighton’s apparel store, but by the mid-1970s, she returned to writing and worked as a fashion director for Seventeen magazine and later held editing roles at Simplicity and Vogue Patterns.
In 1987, Leighton, an esteemed red carpet jeweler who has become known for bringing antique and 20th-century jewels to a discerning international clientele, asked Cooperman to design accessories for his store on Madison Avenue. She accepted his offer and took up studies on wax casting at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
After five years of designing for Leighton, Cooperman opened her own jewelry company, Marilyn F. Cooperman, Inc. Her earrings were brightly colored, eye-catching confections that featured opals, rubies and blue sapphires, and she created innovative, alluring bracelets that mixed patinated silver and 18-karat gold. Her accessories were a hit, especially among celebrities, political figures and royalty.
Cooperman’s jewelry is held in the collections of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, the Yale University Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She was on the Board of the American Society of Jewelry Historians.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Marilyn F. Cooperman earrings, brooches and rings.
Christian Lacroix earrings by Christian Lacroix circa 1990
By Christian Lacroix
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHRISTIAN LACROIX - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1990 under the artistic direction of Christian Lacroix. Golden metal clip-on earrings with orange resin, red rhinestones, and re...
Gilt Metal
Yves Saint Laurent earrings circa 1989
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
YVES SAINT LAURENT - A Collection circa 1989, under the artistic direction of Yves Saint Laurent. Golden wood earrings ornamented with a green resin cabochon. Made in France. Cond...
Gilt Metal
Yves Saint Laurent Maison Gripoix Chinese Opium Earrings
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in New York, NY
Rare Yves Saint Laurent by Maison Gripoix, Haute Couture, Fall Winter 1977 Chinese Opium Collection. Super long, hand made by Gripoix of poured glass enamel, gilt plated bronze and wood. The poured glass enamel in beads of coral and jade with dark citrine...
Bronze, Gilt Metal
Yves Saint Laurent Barbaric Gilt Earclips
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent textured gilt massive earclips each patinated in a faux verdigris. Pendants have foil backed large oval topaz cabochon drops. Clip back fittings. Unsigned. 1980's ...
Enamel, Gilt Metal
$2,126
Gripoix earrings 1980s
By Maison Gripoix
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
GRIPOIX - (Made in France) Golden metal clip-on earrings with rhinestones and glass paste. Work from the Gripoix atelier. Not signed. Condition: Very good condition Dimensions: Len...
Gilt Metal
Har Earrings, Circa 1950s
By Har Jewelry
Located in New York, NY
These collectible Har earrings derive from the series of Asian characters in different positions.Circa 1950s with faux jade and aurora borealis accents.
Clip backs, Excellent c...
Gilt Metal
$1,476
W 0.56 in L 1.11 in
Antique Dutch 14 Karat Gold Cannetille Earrings with Fringe, Mid-19th Century
Located in Rotterdam, NL
These finely detailed antique Dutch earrings are crafted in 14 karat gold and executed in intricate cannetille work. Each earring features a circular, domed top composed of delicate ...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Augustine Earrings in Golden Metal and Glass Paste
By Augustine Paris
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Augustine - Earrings in golden metal, dark pink and orange glass paste. Additional information: Condition: Very good condition Dimensions: Heigh...
Gilt Metal
Joseff of Hollywood Byzantine Revival Fob Earclips
By Joseff of Hollywood
Located in New York, NY
Joseff Hollywood signature lacquered Russian gilt and emerald cabochon Byzantine revival fob dangle earclips. Clip back fittings. 1940's USA. Length...
Gilt Metal
Eighteen Karat Yellow Gold Transformer Contemporary Earrings with Sapphires
By Polya Medvedeva Jewellery
Located in Berlin, DE
These contemporary drop earrings will be made of 18 karat yellow gold with natural dark blue sapphires and detachable topazes drops. The earrings were sculptured this year by german ...
Beryl, Quartz, Topaz, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Whi...
David Webb 18k Gold Ruby Emerald Sapphire Diamond Earclips, 1970s
By David Webb
Located in Bal Harbour, FL
These extraordinary vintage earrings by David Webb, created in the 1970s, are a quintessential expression of the designer’s bold, iconic aesthetic. Crafted in rich 18K yellow gold, t...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Michael Kanners Carved Citrine Tourmaline and Diamond Flower Earrings
By Michael Kanners
Located in Bal Harbour, FL
Vivid orange citrine flowers and forest green tourmaline leaves are delicately mounted in 18kt gold, to create this exquisite earring. A mast...
Citrine, Tourmaline, Diamond, 18k Gold
Christopher Walling Ruby Pink Sapphire and Diamond Havemeyer Earrings
By Christopher Walling
Located in Bal Harbour, FL
A dazzling fusion of color, form, and craftsmanship, these exceptional "Havemeyer" earrings by acclaimed American designer Christopher Walling are a rare and radiant find. Rendered i...
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Michael Kanners Yellow Diamond and Amber Drop Earrings
By Michael Kanners
Located in Bal Harbour, FL
Radiating warmth and light, these one-of-a-kind earrings pair the golden fire of vibrant yellow diamonds with the sunlit glow of fluted amber drops. Each earring is a small sculpture...
Amber, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ana Khouri Arachnid Diamond Earrings, 2013
Located in Bal Harbour, FL
Thinking outside the box is an understatement when referring to such an artistic talent as Ana Khouri. Alluding to her background she is often referred to a...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
GIA Certified Gem Quality Mandarin Garnet Diamond Platinum Earrings
Located in Bal Harbour, FL
Orange is for the brave, the bold, the confident risk taker. Studies correlate this magical color with feelings of increased confidence, happiness and understanding. Buddhist monks...
Diamond, White Diamond, Garnet, Mandarin Garnet, Platinum
