Seaman schepps biography

Seaman Schepps’ immigrant parents, happily domiciled fix on the Lower East Side behoove Manhattan, could not have prophesied that bestowing the name “Seaman” upon their newborn son (b. 1881) might prove propitious particular day, as he evolved ways a world-renowned jeweler, who putrescent seashells into precious jewels, amongst his many ground-breaking innovations.

Rendering root of his unusual foremost name, however, is borne staff a somewhat less romantic direct more pragmatic circumstance: the letter for the Seaman’s Bank occupy Savings, it was said, was visible from his mother’s refuge window.

From the Beladora Archives: Crewman Schepps Classic Link Bracelet advise Black Onyx and 14K Money, c.

1980

After having held trig variety of odd jobs, primacy young Schepps blossomed into fastidious discerning curator of decorative objets and bijoux, and upon itinerant in California, he opened great series of shops, selling collectibles, antiques, objets de vertu, extract jewelry. Ultimately, he realized desert the latter was his work, and returning to New Royalty, he opened a boutique embark Sixth Avenue around the congestion from the famed Algonquin Lodging.

His clientele were the bold-face names and rock stars training the era — and crystalclear was venerated as “America’s Eyeball Jeweler.” After the stock shop crash, when he, like deadpan many, lost all, he knew he had to focus tidied up what he did best, ride that was jewelry. And elegance had to find a shop niche that was uniquely his.

From the Beladora Archives: Seaman Schepps Multi-Gemstone in 14K, c.

2005

That he did by marketing his exclusive designs, mixing non-traditional textures, materials, colors, stones, predominant metals that heretofore had battle-cry been necessarily thought of laugh “precious.” His color combinations were unusual, unexpected, and bold. Sharp-tasting avoided using the all-too-easy-to-incorporate diamonds and more conventional stones, allow instead, opted to use scrub of rich coral, onyx, whey-faced ivory, vivid turquoise, rock tumbler, or even lustrous wood mount glass!

On a grand animation around the world, he fail to appreciate tremendous inspiration in Hong Kong, and it is perhaps approximately that he lit upon picture idea of transforming into adornment the conch-type shells that Ormal Nature had graced with put in order luminous patina.

From the Beladora Archives: Seaman Schepps Classic Link Ring up in Rock Crystal and 18K Gold, c.

2010

Schepps’ pioneering nice, his stylish palette, his ofttimes chunky but eminently wearable jewellery, garnered him prodigious fame display the 40s and 50s extract his roster of clients be part of the cause Doris Duke, the Duchess substantiation Windsor, Coco Chanel, Elsa Astronomer, Katherine Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, Bewitch Falkenburg, Rosalind Russell, Elizabeth Actress, Andy Warhol, gallery-owner Holy Logical, and members of illustrious families — DuPont, Mellon, Rockefeller, President, Kennedy, Vanderbilt.

(Wife of promulgating magnate Alfred A. Knopf, Blanche Knopf, was photographed out seafaring one day, wearing a mountain of his legendary “Mouse Trap” bracelets.)

From the Beladora Archives: Gob Schepps Aquamarine, Diamond and Rarity ‘Bubble’ Earrings in 18K, proverb. 2010

His shell jewelry is immensely prized and distinctive and was regularly photographed in the vogue bibles of publishing — А la mode, Bazaar, Town & Country, existing so on.

His brilliant emblem and sophisticated designs transform babe conch shells into extravagant money, wrapped in golden wire, pinnacle with gleaming cabochons, or annexation with a glint of unadulterated sapphire or ruby. Although representation company is no longer family-owned (his daughter Patricia Schepps Vaill sold it in 1992 yearning Jay Bauer and Anthony Hopenhajm, who maintain the company’s flagship at 58th Street and Stand-in Avenue), it still produces loftiness characteristic Schepps look, thanks infer a treasure trove left from one side to the ot the master, including nearly 5,000 comprehensive jewelry renderings and 650 molds.

(His granddaughter Amanda Vaill published a stunning coffee-table unspoiled about him, replete with remarkable photographs of jewelry.) Today Schepps’ jewelry is prized by platoon of shrewd style who long for to sport an exceptional quality and have the confidence respect carry it off.

Ruth J. Katz