Seaman Schepps Walnut Wood Citrine Sapphire Gold Frog Brooch
View Similar Items
Seaman Schepps Walnut Wood Citrine Sapphire Gold Frog Brooch
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:18k Gold
- Stone:Citrine,Sapphire
- Dimensions:Width: 1.75 in (44.45 mm)Length: 1.75 in (44.45 mm)
- Place of Origin:United States
- Period:21st Century
- Date of Manufacture:Contemporary
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: 351391stDibs: LU301322503
Seaman Schepps
A scrappy, self-made artist who transformed turbo shells into decadent earrings and crystal chessmen into bold bracelets, Seaman Schepps (1881–1972) tirelessly worked his way up from the tenements of New York’s Lower East Side to become “America’s Court Jeweler.”
Born to immigrant parents who named him for the Seamen’s Bank for Savings that his mother could see from the hospital — or so the legend goes — Schepps dropped out of school at the age of 14 and never had any formal jewelry training. He later moved to California, where he opened his first jewelry shop in 1904. In 1921, he returned to New York to build on the success he’d begun to enjoy as a jeweler on the West Coast, but it wasn’t long before his Manhattan house, which counted Broadway stars and theater patrons among its clientele, was hit hard by the stock market crash of 1929. Schepps used this disruption to rethink his approach to jewelry, debuting a new store in 1934 on Madison Avenue, where he would make his mark in playful custom adornments.
While many high-end jewelers of his era focused on the purest and most valuable gemstones, Schepps chose his materials for their color and shape, elevating flawed stones others disregarded in collage-like formations involving unconventional materials such as fine wood, coral, seashells and flea-market finds. Passersby of his New York City shop could find a frog-shaped brooch carved from rosewood, a vintage snuff bottle broken into links for a bracelet and loose-drilled pearls plugged with diamonds. Schepps’s whimsical pieces found fans in fashion icons who appreciated his unique statements, including Doris Duke, Andy Warhol and the Duchess of Windsor.
Following Schepps’s death in 1972, his daughter, jewelry designer Patricia S. Vaill, ran the jewelry house for two decades before it was taken over by Jay Bauer and Anthony Hopenhajm of Trianon jewelry. Following the closure of the company’s Park Avenue store in November 2020, sales for Seaman Schepps is now based in its boutique location out of Palm Beach, Florida, where the legendary brand carries forth its founder’s spirited designs.
On 1stDibs, find a distinctive collection of vintage Seaman Schepps jewelry, including brooches, bracelets and other accessories.
- Seaman Schepps White quartz Blue Sapphire Diamond Gold EarringsBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAMeasuring just hint under 1 inch in diameter, the earrings are designed as a large cabochon of white quartz, framed in brilliant white diamonds and tipped with blue sapphire "pr...Category
2010s American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Quartz, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
- 8.68 Carat Sapphire Ring, Signed Seaman ScheppsBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAGraduated pyramids of sapphires are assembled in simple, magnificent splendor, part of the Portofino collection, compliments of iconic American jeweler Seaman Schepps. The stones wei...Category
2010s American Fashion Rings
MaterialsBlue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Seaman Schepps Lapis Gold Link NecklaceBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAAn instant classic, compliments of iconic jewelry designer Seaman Schepps. Hand carved links of lapis lazuli alternate with identical links of 18k yel...Category
2010s American Link Necklaces
MaterialsLapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold
- Splendid Amethyst Citrine Diamond Butterfly BroochLocated in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAMade in the traditional Victorian style with silver over yellow gold, this modern jewel has been antiqued to resemble its century-old counterparts. This assertively-sized butterfly g...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
MaterialsAmethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
- Seaman Schepps 9.45 Carat Moonstone White Gold Portofino RingBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAGraduated pyramids of moonstone are assembled in simple, magnificent splendor, part of the Portofino collection, compliments of iconic American jeweler Seaman Schepps. The stones wei...Category
2010s American Fashion Rings
MaterialsMoonstone, 18k Gold, White Gold
- French Gold Mesh Ribbon Bracelet with Detachable Floral BroochLocated in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAStunning hand, stunning design, stunning detail: This is one of those pieces that will bring a smile to any jewelry enthusiast. The bracelet itself is a sensuous ribbon of golden mes...Category
Vintage 1940s French Retro Bracelets
MaterialsDiamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
- Seaman Schepps' Famous Frog Brooch in 8K Carved Carnelian and SapphiresBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Aspen, COThis is the largest size they made, 63.5 mm (2.5 inches), the width of .75 inches, and .75 inches deep. Well carved in the shape of a frog, (in Asia the frog symbolises good luck and...Category
1990s North American Contemporary Brooches
MaterialsCarnelian, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold
$3,920 Sale Price20% OffFree Shipping - Seaman Schepps' Famous Frog Brooch in 8K Carved Carnelian and SapphiresBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Aspen, COThis is the largest size they made, 63.5 mm (2.5 inches), the width of .75 inches, and .75 inches deep. Well carved in the shape of a frog, (in Asia the frog symbolises good luck...Category
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Brooches
MaterialsCarnelian, Sapphire, 18k Gold
$5,560 Sale Price20% OffFree Shipping - Seaman Schepps Diamond, Crystal BroochBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in New York, NYAn exquisite brooch by Seam Schepps, crafted as a carved crystal with brilliant diamond accents mounted in 18k white gold, signed Seaman Schepps. Appr...Category
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
MaterialsCrystal, Diamond, 18k Gold
- Seaman Schepps Pearl Diamond BroochBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in New York, NYSeaman Schepps brooch; marked Seaman Schepps Three baroque south sea pearls, round-cut diamonds of approximately 6 carats, platinum Dimensions:...Category
20th Century Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Platinum
- Seaman Schepps Aquamarine, Diamond BroochBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in New York, NYSeaman Schepps aquamarine, diamond and" synthetic ruby" brooch in platinum and base metal. Circa 1945. The brooch features rectangluar step cut aqua...Category
Mid-20th Century American Retro Brooches
MaterialsAquamarine, Diamond, Platinum
- Seaman Schepps Ruby Cabochon Diamond Gold BroochBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in New York, NYVintage 14k gold brooch by Seaman Schepps, with three diamonds - approx. 0.45ctw and ruby cabochons (multiple stones have chips). Brooch measu...Category
20th Century American Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Ruby, Gold