Vintage Elzac Hand Painted Ceramic and Felt French Boy Brooch 1943

This sweet little Elzac ceramic French boy brooch is wearing a red felt beret, a red felt vest, and light green pants and black boots. The shy expression on his face is so cute! Starting in the 1940s, California ceramic brooches were popular and fashionable, and Elzac specialized in making jewelry of this type. The patent for this ceramic boy brooch is listed in Collecting Costume Jewelry 202, by Julia C. Carroll, on page 321. The patent, number 136,222, was issued August 24, 1943, to Elliot Handler. Elliot Handler was one of two partners that founded Elzac (El for Elliot, and zac for the other partner, Zachary Zemby). Elzac was located in Los Angeles, California. The company was known for making costume jewelry out of innovative materials such as plastic, ceramic, bone, horn, fabric, cork, and sponge. This was due to the materials shortages experienced during WWII. Additionally, Elzac made jewelry for the movie industry and for Joseff of Hollywood. Elliot Handler is famous for being one of the founders of the toy company, Mattel, and for its most famous product, Barbie. I believe that this Elzac ceramic French boy brooch is a rare one, as I have not been able to find any trace of another one anywhere! Details: - Marks: None - Color: Green, yellow, red, black and white - Materials: Ceramic, lucite, metal, felt - Dimensions: 2 ¾” L x 1 ½”W - Condition: Very good, some black paint wear, normal crazing and a chip at the bottom of the reverse side of the brooch