A French trained artist who was born in Paris in 1931, Lea Stein began making her whimsical pieces of jewellery in 1969 when her husband, Fernand Steinberger, came up with a process of laminating layers of rhodoid (cellulose acetate sheets) with interesting textures and colours.

The layers were baked overnight with a secret component of his creation and then cut into shapes for various designs of pins, bracelets, earrings and shaped decorative objects. Viewed from the side, as many as 20 layers of cellulose can be seen in some models, bonded together to make these pieces.

The most easily recognizable Lea Stein pin is the 3-D fox, which has been produced in a myriad of colours and designs. Often, lace or metal layers were incorporated into the celluloid, which produced an astounding number of unique textures. The 3-D fox's tail is looped from one piece of celluloid more...

56 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

9ct gold charm bracelet, large selection of 9ct gold, 15ct…

9ct gold charm bracelet, large selection of 9ct gold, 15ct charms etc including dragon, stein, ram, Eiffel tower and many more 44.4grams

'Attila cat face' brooch by Lea Stein marked Lea Stein Paris…

'Attila cat face' brooch by Lea Stein marked Lea Stein Paris reverse, approx width 6 cm

'Flower pot' brooch by Lea Stein marked Lea Stein Paris reverse,…

'Flower pot' brooch by Lea Stein marked Lea Stein Paris reverse, approx height 5 cm

'Ladybird' brooch by Lea Stein marked Lea Stein Paris reverse,…

'Ladybird' brooch by Lea Stein marked Lea Stein Paris reverse, approx height 5.5 cm

'Bacchus standing Cat' brooch by Lea Stein marked Lea Stein…

'Bacchus standing Cat' brooch by Lea Stein marked Lea Stein Paris reverse, approx height 10 cm

Gold charm bracelet, the curb link chain suspending nineteen…

Gold charm bracelet, the curb link chain suspending nineteen gold charms including; statue of liberty, beer stein, monkey, pig, Corinthian column, dog, abacus and the little mermaid, accompanied by three additional charms, gross weight 113.5gm, length…

Three pieces of vintage jewellery, comprising a Lea Stein Paris…

Vintage Lea Stein Paris Brooch, Buch & Deichmann Parrot Brooch, Bakelite Mirror

Three pieces of vintage jewellery, comprising a Lea Stein Paris brooch, a red parrot brooch, marked 'Buch & Deichmann Copenhagen Denmark, length 13.5 cm, and a Bakelite pocket/ pendant mirror.

14ct bi-colour gold, diamond and emerald brooch/pendant,…

Diamond and Emerald Lion Brooch/Pendant

14ct bi-colour gold, diamond and emerald brooch/pendant, modelled as the profile of a roaring lion with a polished gold mane, the face and ear pave-set with single-cut diamonds, the eye collet-set with an oval-shaped emerald cabochon, the diamonds and…

A pair of antique 9ct rose gold kookaburra cufflinks, oval…

Antique Kookaburra Cufflinks in 9ct Rose Gold

A pair of antique 9ct rose gold kookaburra cufflinks, oval plaques with engraved kookaburras, backs stamped 9ct Bb REG4715 to dumbel backs, tops 19 x 14 mm, wt. 7.27g, with Martin and Stein val. And box.

A gold charm bracelet suspended with a thirty various charms…

Gold Charm Bracelet with 30 Unique Charms

A gold charm bracelet suspended with a thirty various charms including dice, beer stein, horse, poodle, mounted in gold, gross weight 65.8gm.

A vintage 'Lea Stein' brooch, Paris.

Vintage Parisian Lea Stein Brooch

A vintage 'Lea Stein' brooch, Paris.

Lea stein bird brooch with the label to the reverse, size 39 x…

Lea Stein Bird Brooch with Label - 39 x 42mm

Lea stein bird brooch with the label to the reverse, size 39 x 42 mm

Lea Stein brooch, contemporary brooch in the form of a polar…

Polar Bear Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein brooch, contemporary brooch in the form of a polar bear

Lea Stein 'Plucky Dog' brooch

"Playful Pup" Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein 'Plucky Dog' brooch

A negligee necklace, featuring seed pearls, a medium lustre…

Akoya Pearl and Coral Bead Necklace

A negligee necklace, featuring seed pearls, a medium lustre Akoya pearl and a coral bead, on 14ct yellow gold. Weight 4.4g. Presented in a Martin & Stein Sydney box.

A Lea Stein brooch, shaped as an owl.

Owl-shaped Lea Stein Brooch

A Lea Stein brooch, shaped as an owl.

An Edwardian 22ct yellow gold bloodstone intaglio engraved with…

Edwardian 22ct Gold Whippet Bloodstone Intaglio Ring

An Edwardian 22ct yellow gold bloodstone intaglio engraved with a whippet, London, 1909. Provenance: Martin & Stein, Queen Victoria building, Sydney, size L Wt 14 grams

Lea Stein sailing boat brooch marked to the reverse, width 4 cm

Lea Stein Sailing Boat Brooch - 4cm Width

Lea Stein sailing boat brooch marked to the reverse, width 4 cm

Lea Stein vintage car brooch, in tones of blue and yellow,…

Lea Stein Blue and Yellow Vintage Car Brooch

Lea Stein vintage car brooch, in tones of blue and yellow, marked Lea Stein, Paris verso, length 7 cm

Lea Stein vintage hat and cane brooch, in tones of turquoise,…

Lea Stein Turquoise Hat & Cane Brooch

Lea Stein vintage hat and cane brooch, in tones of turquoise, black and cream, marked Lea Stein, Paris verso, length 7 cm

Lea Stein vintage Scottie dog brooch, depicting three scottie…

Lea Stein Scottie Dog Brooch

Lea Stein vintage Scottie dog brooch, depicting three scottie dogs with bows to their necks, in tones of green, red and yellow, marked Lea Stein, Paris verso, length 9 cm

Rare Lea Stein vintage Diver brooch, depicting a lady with…

Lea Stein Diver Brooch

Rare Lea Stein vintage Diver brooch, depicting a lady with scarf, in tones of red, white and blue, marked Lea Stein, Paris verso length 12 cm

Lea Stein vintage half Collarette Art Deco girl brooch, in…

Art Deco Girl Brooch by Lea Stein Paris

Lea Stein vintage half Collarette Art Deco girl brooch, in tones of green, white and black, marked Lea Stein, Paris verso, height 5 cm

Lea Stein vintage Art Deco girl brooch, in tones pink, cream…

Art Deco Girl Brooch by Lea Stein Paris

Lea Stein vintage Art Deco girl brooch, in tones pink, cream and black, marked Lea Stein, Paris verso, height 5 cm

An early Australian ring, Rhoda Wager style ring, set with an…

Australian Opal Ring in Rose Gold by Rhoda Wager

An early Australian ring, Rhoda Wager style ring, set with an oval cabochon cut light opal, 9ct rose gold. Size M. Weight 2.2g. In a Martin & Stein box.

Large 9ct yellow gold and carnelian brooch, frame has…

9ct Gold & Carnelian Brooch with Birmingham Hallmarks

Large 9ct yellow gold and carnelian brooch, frame has Birmingham hallmarks, Ex. Martin & Stein Jewellery.

Lea Stein fox brooch and Scarlett O'Hara brooch (2)

Lea Stein and Scarlett O'Hara Brooches

Lea Stein fox brooch and Scarlett O'Hara brooch (2)

Lea Stein Attila cat brooch and dragon brooch, (2)

Lea Stein Cat and Dragon Brooches

Lea Stein Attila cat brooch and dragon brooch, (2)

Lea Stein Attila cat brooch, polar bear brooch and Pierrot…

Lea Stein Animal and Pierrot Brooch Set

Lea Stein Attila cat brooch, polar bear brooch and Pierrot brooch, (3)

Lea Stein owl brooch and Scarlett O'Hara brooch, (2)

Lea Stein and Scarlett O'Hara Brooch Set

Lea Stein owl brooch and Scarlett O'Hara brooch, (2)

Lea Stein Cicada brooch and Poodle brooch, (2)

Lea Stein Poodle and Cicada Brooch Set

Lea Stein Cicada brooch and Poodle brooch, (2)

A 800 silver charm bracelet, shaped as beer stein, Eiffel tower…

800 Silver Charm Bracelet with Beer Stein and Eiffel Tower

A 800 silver charm bracelet, shaped as beer stein, Eiffel tower etc. Weight 42g

Vintage Lea Stein Girl in wind brooch, from late 1960s (rarer…

Lea Stein 60s Girl in Wind Brooch (Rare Style)

Vintage Lea Stein Girl in wind brooch, from late 1960s (rarer style)

Lea Stein car brooch, signed to rear

Signed Lea Stein Car Brooch

Lea Stein car brooch, signed to rear

Lea Stein Penguin brooch, signed to rear

Signed Lea Stein Penguin Brooch

Lea Stein Penguin brooch, signed to rear

Lea Stein cicada brooch

Cicada Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein cicada brooch

Lea Stein frog brooch

Funky Frog Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein frog brooch

Lea Stein turtle brooch

Adorable Turtle Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein turtle brooch

Lea Stein butterfly brooch

Butterfly Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein butterfly brooch

Lea Stein red fox brooch

Red Fox Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein red fox brooch

Lea Stein owl brooch (signed)

Signed Lea Stein Owl Brooch

Lea Stein owl brooch (signed)

Lea Stein cat brooch(signed)

Signed Lea Stein Cat Brooch

Lea Stein cat brooch(signed)

Lea Stein dog brooch (signed)

Signed Lea Stein Dog Brooch

Lea Stein dog brooch (signed)

Lea Stein cat brooch (signed)

Signed Lea Stein Cat Brooch

Lea Stein cat brooch (signed)

Lea Stein red fox brooch

Red Fox Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein red fox brooch

Lea Stein Paris dog brooch 'Pluckie'

Lea Stein's 'Pluckie' Dog Brooch

Lea Stein Paris dog brooch 'Pluckie'

A gold charm bracelet, the gold curb link bracelet suspending a…

Gemstone Charm Bracelet

A gold charm bracelet, the gold curb link bracelet suspending a series of fifteen gold, paste and gem-set charms including; a slipper, an elephant, a toothbrush, an old-fashioned automobile, a sapphire and ruby-set dancing ballerina automaton, a ring…

A 1950 Bakelite cat brooch by Lea Stein, Paris 1950

Lea Stein Paris Bakelite Cat Brooch (1950)

A 1950 Bakelite cat brooch by Lea Stein, Paris 1950

Lea Stein hat and cane brooch

Chic Hat & Cane Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein hat and cane brooch

Lea Stein curled cat brooch

Curled Cat Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein curled cat brooch

Lea Stein geometric brooch

Geometric Brooch by Lea Stein

Lea Stein geometric brooch

A Lea Stein ladybug brooch. A signed Lea Stein Paris ladybug…

Signed Lea Stein Ladybug Brooch

A Lea Stein ladybug brooch. A signed Lea Stein Paris ladybug brooch of stylised form, with faux marble violet celluloid through wings, solid black to head with sparkling silver to tail end, completed with a single red and single green dot to wings, pin…

A Lea Stein turtle brooch. A signed Lea Stein Paris stylised…

Lea Stein Amber Turtle Brooch

A Lea Stein turtle brooch. A signed Lea Stein Paris stylised turtle brooch of celluloid, the domed shell in striated and checked amber, brown and coral coloured blacks, threaded through with gold detail, to head, tail and flippers faux tortoiseshell,…

Celluloid, marked to reverse Lea Stein Paris, crafted as a…

Lea Stein Paris Brown Cicada Pin

Celluloid, marked to reverse Lea Stein Paris, crafted as a stylised peaked cicada of mottled browns through body with striations to edges and head, pin to reverse. Length 8.5 cm

Lea Stein Paris marked to reverse, celluloid, made as a…

Lea Stein Ladybug Pin

Lea Stein Paris marked to reverse, celluloid, made as a stylised ladybug of domed form, with deep red wings, pink striped spots, black head and white striped tail, fitted with pin. Length 8.5 cm

A Lea Stein leopard brooch, a Lea Stein Paris celluloid brooch…

Lea Stein Leopard Brooch

A Lea Stein leopard brooch, a Lea Stein Paris celluloid brooch of stylised leopard of mottled naturalistic styled body spots with fine iridescent brown detail, pin to reverse. Length 10.5 cm