American jewelers Trabert & Hoeffer established their first store in 1930s on Park Avenue in New York. It was the time when American clientele just started to get introduced to French jewelry design. The company purchased inventory from the Parisian jeweler Mauboussin, which closed its New York location. Trabert & Hoeffer-Mauboussin’s partnership began in 1936. Soon after the company’s jewels earned recognition among Hollywood stars, such as Audrey Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich and Paulette Godard.
In 1938, Hoeffer developed a line of jewelry called Reflection. The pieces were designed by Gustave Toth. The main idea behind it was to create a more affordable, but still in the high-end range, collection. The pieces were beautifully crafted from an assortment of pre-cast design elements. Due to advanced manufacturing techniques which kept costs low, Reflection kept being successful during difficult World War II time.
The line became a beginning of Trabert & Hoeffer’s innovative design. The company created plenty of convertible pieces that allowed a jewelry item to turn into a few different ones, giving the client multiple options to play with.
During the maker’s history, Trabert & Hoeffer-Mauboussin stores opened in Atlantic City, Miami Beach, Palm Beach, and Chicago. Today onbly the Chicago store remains open. It carries a luxury spirit of an intimate, Art Deco style jewelry salon.
Designer:Trabert & Hoeffer
Circa:1970s
Materials:18k Gold, 14k Gold
Weight:35.2 grams
Measurements:The pendant: 2" x 2 ½”
The chain is 23” x ⅛”
Hallmarks:Maker's mark, hallmarks for 18k gold and 14k gold
This vintage pendant by Trabert & Hoeffer is crafted in 18k yellow gold and designed into a stylized Pisces motif. Two fish are curved around each other in a mirror-like layout, each detailed with textured fins and tail wraps. The eyes are set with small round pearls, adding a soft accent to the strong lines. The pendant hangs from a 14k gold box chain, which has a simple, squared structure. The combination of warm gold tones and subtle organic details gives the necklace a distinct vintage character with clear symbolic reference. A piece rooted in zodiac symbolism and mid-century design sensibility.
The pendant measures: 2" x 2 ½” The chain is 23” x ⅛” Total weight: 35.2 grams
