First, I want to thank anyone and everyone who has contributed in any way to this site, be it information or photos, as without you, I could not have done this. Here are the facts that I have discovered about all of this wonderful jewelry after years of collecting, reading and researching.
The chain on the lariat or bola style necklaces made by Selro Corporation and Selini are identical to the plainer face sets which are unsigned. And the chains on some of the more decorative style pieces of signed Selini are identical in style and size to the chain used on the same type pieces of signed Selro. (See my signed Selini rhinestone set and it's matching sister, signed Selro, right next to it!)
There are 2 types of female faces. One is much more ornate than the other is and some come in a pearl-like finish. Then suddenly the pieces come alive with detail and design and are either signed Selini, Selro or BOTH on one piece! The reason for this appears to be to distinguish between the two lines...Selro and Selini and they were both in manufacture at the same time.
In my research, I found not only the face jewelry to be similar or identical, but also the cabochon and rhinestone jewelry. I have photos or own pieces of both, which are nearly identical matches to other pieces, signed by with one designer name or the other.
It has been previously said that the owner of the Selro Corp. jewelry's name was Paul Selinger of New York City and the Selro jewelry was manufactured circa 1950-1960s. His name was, in fact, Paul Selenger, not Selinger. He worked for H. Pomerantz before going out on his own to design and manufacture Selro and Selini jewelry.
Paul's mother, was named Rose Selenger and he named his company after her. Selro jewelry came first. The phone was always answered "Selro" as this was the original company. Selini jewelry came somewhat later but both lines were manufactured at the same time in later years. The name, Selini, was just an attempt to differentiate the two different lines.
The jewelry was always very well made with all stones being hand set and the metal of the nicest quality.
Look at the signed Selro gorgeous lime green Lucite earrings pictured above, then take a look at it's counterpart in tangerine, signed Selini. Both use the trillion shaped, fantasy cut center stones and opaque teardrops in the matching color. They also utilize the same type of aurora borealis stones for accents. The same holds true with the tangerine orange Selro Lucite brooch in orange and the "matching" earrings signed Selini, shown below. Both use almost the same Lucite "leaves" and the same pear shaped opaque cabochons, just like the trillion shaped earrings.
My first big discovery was the blackamoor face bracelet with the signature of both Selini on the clasp and Selro to the side. There are multiple sets on these pages marked that way such as the signed black face Oriental women and the white "devil" face set which are each marked Selini on the metal and Selro Corp. on the metal or on the backs of the heads and sometimes on the bracelet framework (as in the case of the black face women full set).
The final piece in my research, which really showed me what had happened and has caused so much confusion among collectors and sellers, alike, was locating the fantastic bola necklace pictured at the top of the page. The mystery of no signature has been solved! The original pieces were all sold with hangtags, not signed on the pieces themselves! When someone bought a piece or set to wear, they discarded the hangtag in order to wear the jewelry. Since both lines were in manufacture at the same time, this accounts for many unsigned pieces and the combinations of both signatures on some of the pieces.
I will be researching this wonderful designer for years to come so keep checking back periodically to see what new information and wonderful pieces I find. :-)
