Knoll and Pregizer Jewelry HistoryKnoll and Pregizer Jewelry HistoryKnoll and Pregizer Jewelry HistoryKnoll and Pregizer Jewelry History
  • Home
  • About
  • Convention
    • CJCI CONVENTION 2021 CANCELLED
  • Past Events
    • Past CJCI Speakers
    • 2013 Convention
    • 2012 Convention
    • 2011 Convention
    • CJCI Convention 2011 Videos
  • Publications
    • CJCI Magazine Spring Issue
    • CJCI Magazine Summer Issue
    • CJCI Magazine Fall Issue
    • CJCI Magazine Winter Issue
    • Buy the set
  • Social Network
    • Facebook Fan Page
    • Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l Bazaar
    • Twitter
  • Updates
    • CJCI News
  • Mailing List
  • Donate
  • Help
    • FAQ
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
  • RCJ
    • Update Your RCJ Bookmarks
✕
            No results See all results
            J.R. Wood & Sons 1923 Jewelry Catalog
            August 24, 2019
            Les Bernard Jewelry
            August 24, 2019

            Knoll and Pregizer Jewelry History

            Published by Mark Lewis on August 24, 2019
            Categories
            • Jewelry Manufacturers
            Tags
            • article by Robin Deutsch.
            • Knoll and Pregizer fashion jewelry
            • Knoll and Pregizer jewelry history

            Costume Jewelry Collectors Int'l
            is pleased to host
            RESEARCHING COSTUME JEWELRY
            originally created and published by Dotty Stringfield on IllusionJewels.com

            KNOLL AND PREGIZER JEWELRY
            Founded by Theodor Eberhard Friedrich Knoll and Frederich Pregizer in 1887
            by Robin Deutsch © 2009

             

            Knoll and Pregizer double clip brooch

            I have been collecting this gorgeous jewelry for about ten years now, unfortunately compared to the size of some of my other collections this one is much smaller as it is usually hard to find. Each acquisition of a piece of KP has been a joy to acquire. This is just a small portion to give you an idea of the quality of jewelry made by this amazing company. Sometimes the KP punch is so small that you might not even know you have a piece. I have had pieces for a couple of years before I found the mark. Sometimes I will buy a piece of it missing stones knowing I might never be able to repair it just to have it in my collection.

            Each piece is handcrafted from sterling silver, using the finest paste and imitation glass stones mimicking platinum, diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Sometimes they will use semi-precious stone colors such as amethyst and onyx. The pieces are constructed exactly as a piece of fine jewelry would be, and I am sure the same jewelers working on real jewelry also made these exquisite imitations. My saddest loss was not being able to buy a Cartier copy of an Art Deco Egyptian Revival scarab brooch they made but I will never forget that piece. You never forget the ones that get away...and sadly several have.

            For years it remained one of those jewelry mystery marks that remained unsolved to us American collectors. I had noticed the company name listed in the Theodor Fahrner Jewelry Book not as KP, but as Knoll & Preziger (misspelled) and that piqued my interest. I tried researching the name every way possible and all I would get on occasion would be watch auctions on eBay. One day as I was researching I could not believe what I found. An eBay auction from a seller in Uruguay of all places who was selling a 1953 Atlanta Post catalogue containing German jewelry and accessory companies. The seller listed the names of the companies in the auction and photos of many pages. There it was. A photo of jewelry with the KP Trademark and the company name. In all my years of research this was probably one of my happiest and proudest moments. To be able to connect and confirm all of the information together.

            This 1953 catalogue page confirms without a doubt the attribution of jewelry marked KP Sterling Germany (or KP 935) to Knoll & Pregizer of Pforzheim, Germany.

            What is fascinating is in their long history they made Victorian Jewelry, the garland style jewelry popular in English Edwardian and French Belle Epoque and the MOST extraordinary (and my favorite) breathtaking Art Deco Jewelry. Because of the 1953 catalogue page you can see the fascinating change in their style of jewelry after WWII. They registered watches with the trademark KAPE in 1938. Amazingly, I have discovered several patents dated from 1908 thru 1975 registered in Germany, France and the UK. Many of their watches were made in 14K gold.

            Other research yielded records in German archives that Knoll & Pregizer was registered post WWII as being in business from 1948-1973. This, along with the 1887 date of registration as a company from the Theodor Fahrner book and patent info confirms that Knoll & Pregizer were in business from 1887 thru 1975.

            I was thrilled to have been contacted by Thomas W. Maguire, the lovely great-great grandson of T.E.G. Knoll after he read this article online. He is the keeper of the Knoll family history and was kind enough to share with me the following:

            * Great-great grandfather Theodor Eberhard Friedrich Knoll -- Oct 2, 1851 - April 24, 1928

            * Great-grandfather Theodor Knoll -- Oct 13, 1882 - Nov, 21, 1961

            * Frederich Pregizer left the company in 1907.

            * He shared wonderful family pictures that can be seen on my imageevent (linked below).

            Please note that Pforzheim, Germany had hundreds of jewelry manufacturers on par with Providence, RI here in the US. I have many pieces of jewelry just marked Sterling Germany, but unless the piece is marked KP, it was not made by Knoll & Pregizer. This is important to note as it would be irresponsible and unethical to attribute jewelry to a company without their known trademark.

             

            See pictures of Robin's wonderful collection of Knoll & Pregizer jewelry, pictures of marks, and photos of the Knoll family.

            ©Robin Deutsch 2009. No information or images may be used without prior consent.


            Researching Costume Jewelry -- Home

            Copyright 1997 to present — www.costumejewelrycollectors.com — All Rights Reserved.
            All RCJ publications and pages were created
            by Dotty Stringfield with the assistance of research contributor Pat Seal
            and other valued members of the costume jewelry collecting community.

            Help CJCI keep this information online free of charge by making a donation to our Education Fund via PayPal. Please click below to make your donation.


            Paypal donation button
            Share
            0
            Mark Lewis
            Mark Lewis

            Related posts

            February 8, 2022

            Pennino Jewelry History: Three Neapolitan Princes and the Legacy of Pennino


            Read more
            Brenda Jewelry Co. as featured in Jewelers' Buyers Guide

            Brenda Jewelry Co. as featured in Jewelers' Buyers Guide

            January 17, 2020

            Brenda Jewelry Co.


            Read more

            Selro Necklace with Herringbone Chain and Other Matching Pieces

            August 24, 2019

            Selro & Selini Jewelry Unmasked


            Read more

            Comments are closed.

            CJCI COMMUNITY SPECIAL OFFERS
            ✕
            • Popular
            • Recent

            Help CJCI keep this information online free of charge by making a donation to our Education Fund via PayPal. Please click below to make your donation.


            Paypal

            About the Co-founders

            Melinda L. Lewis
            Pamela Y. Wiggins

            CONTACT CJCI

            members@costumejewelrycollectors.com

            Mailing address:
            CJCI
            P.O. BOX 446
            BENICIA, CA 94510

            Costume Jewelry Collectors International Copyright © 2023