What Frank Actually Said
Over the years, stories about Juliana and DeLizza & Elster have been repeated so often that sometimes it becomes difficult to separate collector lore from the original history.
What Frank Actually Said goes back to the source.
Using Frank DeLizza’s own memoirs, records, advertisements and explanations, this series looks at questions collectors have discussed for years and asks a simple question:
What did Frank himself actually tell us?
These articles are not intended to replace the study of the jewelry itself. Instead, they add another piece of evidence — the words and records of the man who was there.
Read the Series
Why D&E Wouldn’t Work Exclusively for Coro
Frank DeLizza recalled that Coro once wanted DeLizza & Elster’s entire factory production. His father declined—not because D&E would not work for Coro, but because he did not want the company dependent on a single customer.
Copying Was Part of the Costume Jewelry Business
Frank DeLizza wrote openly about copying within the costume jewelry industry — from customers taking successful designs to other manufacturers to D&E samples appearing in a competitor’s line. This article looks at what Frank’s own stories can teach us about look-alikes, variations and identifying Juliana jewelry today.
What Was the Real Connection Between Pakula and DeLizza & Elster?
Frank DeLizza wrote about Pakula as an important DeLizza & Elster customer and explained how jewelry from the D&E line was selected for Pakula. This article looks at what Frank actually said about that relationship and the documentation that helps clarify it.
Was Juliana Really Only Made for Two Years?
A look at what Frank actually said about the Juliana hang tags, the often-repeated “two year” statement, and what happened afterward.
DeLizza & Elster Made Jewelry for Weiss
Frank DeLizza named Albert Weiss as an early D&E customer and later recalled making small dress clips for Weiss. This article brings his memoir together with a Flowering Frost advertisement, signed jewelry and a documented bib necklace to explore what the evidence really tells us.
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