Henry Dankner founded his namesake company in Hungary in the 1930s. The business grew until the Nazis took control of Budapest forcing the Dankner family to flee. The Nazis seized everything of value at the Budapest workshop, leaving behind the certificates. Mr. Dankner surmised that the prewar items were most likely all melted. After arriving in the United States, Henry re-established his company in the 1950's and began focusing on manufacturing charms. Charm manufacturing continued to prosper through the 1980s and the stamp on his pieces would be marked "Dankner" or with a "D" surrounded by a wreath. Their later pieces were distributed by major jewelry houses like Cartier, Harry Winston, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Robert Dankner and his brother George took over the company when their father passed and continued to run the company from their longtime space at 71 West 47th Street. After six decades of manufacturing, the company closed its doors and donated its paperwork, molds, and other items to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
This substantial Hula Girl pendant is from Dankner's "Living Charms" series crafted in the 1960s. It features a central hula girl in a cage setting, surrounded by palm trees. It is accented with a ruby and sapphire. A watch mechanism powers the pendant via a knob on the side - you wind it up like you would a watch and watch the hula girl spin.
This impeccably crafted pendant was made in 14k and measures 27mm tall (not including the bail) by 26mm in diameter. It weighs 14.1g. A wonderful collectible treasure.
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