Before Tupperware parties, there were brooch parties. Grandma went to both.
Sarah Coventry is one of the most recognizable names in vintage costume jewelry, and one of the most affordable to collect. Here's a short guide to who made it, how to read the marks and what to look for.
Our signed Sarah Coventry rose brooch with an amber stone is in the shop now for $33, and it's the only one we have.
See the brooch →
A short history
Sarah Coventry was founded in 1949 in Newark, New York, by Charles H. Stuart, who named the line after his granddaughter. The jewelry wasn't sold in stores. It was sold at home "fashion shows," much like Tupperware parties, by independent representatives. The home party era ran from 1949 until the company went bankrupt in 1984.
The name came back several times after that, including department store lines in the late 1980s and 1990s, pieces sold on the Home Shopping Network in the early 2000s, and a later home party revival. So a Sarah Coventry mark doesn't automatically mean a piece is from the original run.
Reading the marks
Over the years the company used several marks, including "Coventry," "Sarah Coventry," "Sarah Cov" and "SC." Reference guides disagree on exactly when each one started. Some say the earliest pieces were unsigned and marks became standard in the mid-1950s, while others date the first marks to 1949. The marks also overlapped, so a mark alone gives you a range, not a year.
You'll usually find the mark on the back of a brooch, on or near the clasp of a necklace or bracelet, and on the clip of an earring.
See it in person: Sarah Coventry in the shop
Both of these carry the Sarah Coventry name. Each one is a single piece, so when it's gone, it's gone.
How to narrow down the date
- Match the design. Sarah Coventry designs had catalog names, and collector reference books list them with production years. Matching a piece to its named design is the most reliable way to date it.
- Look for sets. Many designs were sold as matching brooches, earrings and necklaces, which makes them easier to identify.
- Use the mark as a starting point, then let the style and construction narrow it down.
What to look for when buying
Check that the mark is present and readable, the clasp works, the stones are bright and all there, and the finish isn't worn through on the high spots. Sarah Coventry was made in large numbers, so for most pieces condition matters more than rarity.
Shop signed vintage jewelry
We currently have a Sarah Coventry rose brooch with an amber stone and a Sarah Coventry children's charm pendant necklace. You can also see what else we have right now in signed designer vintage jewelry. Every piece is one of a kind, so when it's gone, it's gone.
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Signed designer jewelry →Mid-century jewelry →Vintage brooches →
Keep reading: Signed vs. Unsigned Brooches · How to Date Vintage Costume Jewelry · How to Date a Brooch by Its Pin Back
Did your mother or grandmother ever go to a Sarah Coventry jewelry party? Tell us what she brought home.