THE COMPANY OF MCCLELLAND BARCLAY and his JEWELLERY
His company operated as McClelland Barclay Art Products Corporation Circa. 1938-1943
McClelland Barclay, born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1891 was a talented painter who studied at various art institutions and was encouraged to concentrate on illustrations. His works appeared in popular US magazines of the day. He later gained even more fame as the go-to guy for movie posters. On October 19, 1940, Barclay reported for active duty with the US Navy. He served in the New York Recruiting office, illustrating posters for the next two and a half years. These images would become some of the most recognisable recruiting images of World War II
Promoted to Lt. Commander, Barclay worked on further assignments until July 18, 1943, when he was reported as missing in action. He was serving aboard a Tank Landing Ship which was torpedoed in the Solomon Islands. Barclay was awarded the Purple Heart Medal posthumously. He was also awarded the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal; the American Area Campaign Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal.
He was a prolific artist and sculpted utilitarian items, such as trays, bowls and bookends. Lesser known at the time was his costume jewelry, but it is highly regarded today and a sought-after collectible.
McClelland Barclay Art Products Corporation Circa. 1938-1943
In the late 1930’s, McClelland established a small company, the McClelland Barclay Art Products Corporation, to produce his jewelry (apparently Rice-Weiner produced McClelland Barclay’s designs also) and his designs of household items. McClelland had three styles of jewelry: gold- or silver-plated Art Deco and Art Moderne pieces studded with rhinestones in the 1930s; intricate sterling silver jewelry, including the sterling vermeil pieces, in the 1940s; and pieces fashioned from unadorned metal, such as his “Wings” series, floral brooches and horse head brooches
Signatures used were
“McClelland Barclay” in script
“STERLING SILVER/McClelland Barclay"
“Barclay©” This is a rare use of the copyright symbol © to protect the “Branding” not the designs. Copyright protection was used more commonly post 1955.
Please note: Barclay Costume Jewellery is not to be confused with McClelland Barclay pieces (there’s no connection) McClelland Barclays use of the partial signature Barclay was in exactly the same font as the full signature, the Barclay company used a flowing cursive font.