author
Marianne Ostier
1902–1976
An artist and designer who brought a sculptor’s eye to fine jewelry, she became known for bold mid-century pieces that balanced elegance with originality. Her writing reflects the same mix of history, style, and delight in adornment.
1 Audiobook
Jewels and the woman: The romance, magic and art of feminine adornment
by Marianne Ostier
About the author
Born in 1902, Marianne Ostier was an Austrian-born artist, painter, and sculptor who later became a celebrated jewelry designer. She studied at the Vienna Academy of Arts and Crafts, and after emigrating to the United States with her husband, Oliver Ostier, she helped build Ostier Inc. into a notable New York jewelry house.
Ostier was especially admired for modern, sculptural designs that made strong use of diamonds and unusual textures. Contemporary and later accounts describe her as the creative force behind the firm, and her work earned repeated recognition in major diamond design competitions. She also wrote Jewels and the Woman, a lively book that explores the history, meaning, and appeal of jewelry.
She died in 1976, but her work still stands out for its mix of artistry and wearability. For listeners coming to her as an author, her background as a maker gives her writing a distinctive point of view: informed, visually rich, and deeply interested in why jewelry matters to the people who wear it.