Elzac Costume Jewelry

Q: I heard costume jewelry was made by the same people who designed the Barbie doll. I collect anything that goes with Barbie and wondered if what I heard is true.

A: The designers of Barbie, Ruth and Elliot Handler, were two of the founders of Mattel, the company that created and still makes Barbie dolls. The Handlers started a company named Elzac to make costume jewelry in 1941. The jewelry was inexpensive and was sold by Sears and some department stores. Pins were made of hand-painted ceramics or carved wood. Added trim included Lucite, rhinestones, silver, fur and leather. The pins were large, some 4 inches long. Those that depicted the heads of exotic women were especially popular. The jewelry was marked with a label or hang tag that is probably lost now. The Handlers sold their share of the company in 1944 and in 1945 started Mattel, which later produced the Barbie doll and other toys.