Esther Lewittes was an American costume jewelry designer active in the 1950s and 1960s. Her pieces are known for their understated style, the use of sterling silver, and, in some cases, the use of precious stones, wood, and ivory.
Born in 1904 in New York City, she was educated at Columbia University and studied industrial design at the Art Students League of New York.
Before opening her own business in California, she worked as an assistant to a jeweler who worked at Cartier.
In the early 1960s, she opened a gallery in Los Angeles, selling her jewelry and the work of other artists.
After retiring from business in the late 1970s, she moved to her native New York City, where she died in 1990.
Primarily sterling silver, but gold was also used.
Some pieces feature precious stones, such as carnelian. Often genuine pearls.
Sometimes wood and ivory.
Esther Lewittes jewelry is identified by her last name, inscribed on the piece in script or block lettering.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Esther Lewittes’ work was frequently exhibited at the Pasadena Art Museum.
In 2020, Rago Auctions offered a group of Esther Lewittes jewelry, including a necklace, a pair of cufflinks, and a brooch.
Esther Lewittes pieces are traditionally marked “Sterling” and “Lewittes,” and sometimes “handcrafted.”
