Marianne Ostier

Born in 1902, Marianne Ostier was an Austrian-born jeweler and designer who later built an important career in New York. She became known for imaginative, high-end jewelry and for bringing an artist’s eye to precious materials.

She also wrote about the world she knew so well. Her book Jewels and the Woman reflects her interest in the romance, symbolism, and history of adornment, making specialized knowledge feel vivid and inviting for general readers.

Ostier died in 1976. Today she is remembered not only for collectible mid-century jewelry, but also for writing that opened the world of gems and personal ornament to a wider audience.