Marcus & Co. was an American luxury jewelry retailer from 1892 to 1962 in New York City.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Jewelers |
| Founded | 1892 |
| Founder | William Marcus |
| Headquarters | , United States  |
History
editMarcus & Company, founded by William Elder Marcus and later joined by George Marcus and their father, Herman, a German-born former employee of Tiffany & Co., began as a partnership with George B. Jaques as Jaques & Marcus. The business changed its name to Marcus & Co. with the retirement of Jaques in 1892.[1]
It was located at 17th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.[2]
The designers used gemstones such as zircons, chrysoberyls, tourmalines, opals, garnets, beryls, spinels, and peridots.[3] French miniature portraitist Fernand Paillet designed a pendant for them.
Marcus & Co. was also known for producing Art Nouveau jewelry featuring vibrant enamelwork in colors such as blue-green, dark green, and deep pink, which complemented the gemstones. Their jewelry incorporated French floral Art Nouveau motifs and often included coils of metalwork or softly curving gold lines, adding to their distinctive character.[4]
Marcus & Co. distinguished itself by applying enamel on curved surfaces, like petals and leaves, giving pieces a lifelike, sculptural dimension that set them apart in American Art Nouveau jewelry.[5]
Around 1900, Marcus & Co. incorporated synthetic rubies in select designs, demonstrating their forward-looking approach within Art Nouveau.[6]
The company was sold to Gimbels in 1941.[3] It merged with Black, Starr & Frost in 1962.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Artistic Luxury Faberge Tiffany and Lalique" Harrison, Ducamp, Falino 2008
- ^ The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review, Jewelers' Circular Publishing Company, 1899, Vol. 39, p. 9
- ^ a b c Marcus & Co., Macklowe Gallery
- ^ Misiorowski, Elise B.; Dirlam, Dona M. (1986-01-01). "Art Nouveau: Jewels and Jewelers". Gems & Gemology. 22 (4): 209–228. doi:10.5741/GEMS.22.4.209. ISSN 0016-626X.
- ^ "Marcus & Co. Jewelry - A Story About Perfection". DSF Antique Jewelry. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
- ^ Misiorowski, Elise B.; Dirlam, Dona M. (1986-01-01). "Art Nouveau: Jewels and Jewelers". Gems & Gemology. 22 (4): 209–228. doi:10.5741/GEMS.22.4.209. ISSN 0016-626X.
40°44′13″N 73°59′24″W / 40.737°N 73.990°W
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