The Era of Marcasite

What was it like in the 1920's when marcasite jewelry was at its pinnacle? The economic environment was booming with monopolies like Standard Oil, Bell Telephone and Carnegie Steel. Television was yet to be invented so radio was the rage with broadcasts of radio series such as "The Shadow" and "Amos and Andy". Dance crazes like the Charleston and fox trot stormed the country while the 20's also saw the first Miss America Pageant, and Steamboat Willie, the movie feature film staring the Disney character, Mickey Mouse. Lavish and debauched existences were led by the rapidly growing affluence, spawning much underworld crime and the age of gangsters. The excessive wealth allowed many of the nouveau riche to spend their millions on frivolities such as on land, cars, multiple homes, and jewelry, especially ostentatious marcasite jewelry. As an outgrowth of the Art Deco movement, the marcasite jewelry emphasized geometrics, symmetry, repetition, and lots of "flash" and "glitz". We see those criteria carried through into today's marcasite jewelry collection at Plum Island Silver.