Seaman Schepps Shell Coral Gold Earclips
View Similar Items
Seaman Schepps Shell Coral Gold Earclips
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Dimensions:Height: 1.15 in (29.21 mm)Width: 0.8 in (20.32 mm)
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950-1980
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Miami Beach, FL
- Reference Number:Seller: E 4321stDibs: J150311158324
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.
- 1960s Coral Button Yellow Gold Clip-On EarringsLocated in Miami Beach, FLLight angel skin cabochon coral button earrings set in an open work stylized 14k yellow gold frame. The back has clip-on back. The coral area is approxi...Category
Vintage 1960s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsCoral, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Hand-Carved Rock Crystal Shell Earrings with Garnet AccentsLocated in Miami Beach, FLThese one of a kind earrings featured carved rock crystals shells with rhodolite garnet cabochons. They have a 14k yellow gold back.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGarnet, Rock Crystal, 14k Gold
$1,800 Sale Price40% Off - Geometric Three Dimensional Pentagon Gold EarringsLocated in Miami Beach, FLThese 3D Pentagon earrings are 18k yellow gold with a clip back. NO POSTCategory
Late 20th Century Unknown Clip-on Earrings
Materials18k Gold
$2,250 Sale Price25% Off - Large Modern 1970s Turquoise Textured Gold EarringsLocated in Miami Beach, FLLarge oval 18k earrings made of textured and smooth bubbles that cover the surface of these impressive earrings to give them a truly unique appeal. Three cabochon turquoise are bezel...Category
Vintage 1970s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsTurquoise, 18k Gold
- Roberto Coin Enamel and Gold Flower Clip EarringsBy Roberto CoinLocated in Miami Beach, FLA pair of 18k yellow gold and enamel Earclips by Roberto Coin accented with white enamel work, earrings measure approximately 22.30mm by 18.4mm. One earring is set with a round bril...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Clip-on Earrings
Materials18k Gold
- 1970s Pave Diamond Ribbed Gold Clip EarringsLocated in Miami Beach, FLBeautifully made 1970's earrings featuring a 14k white gold circle set with approximately 2 carats of pave diamonds. The circle is mounted in a 14k yellow gold bezel which sits on a...Category
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond
$3,000 Sale Price33% Off
- Seaman Schepps Turbo Shell EarringsBy Patricia Schepps Vaill for Seaman ScheppsLocated in Darnestown, MDBeautiful shell earrings by PSV of Seaman Schepps. In the 1960's, the founder retired and his daughter, Patricia took over until she sold the company in 1992. PSV are her initials. ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Modern Clip-on Earrings
Materials14k Gold
- SEAMAN SCHEPPS Shell Ear ClipsBy Patricia Schepps Vaill for Seaman ScheppsLocated in New York, NY14k gold and cabochon ruby shell ear ear clipsCategory
American Clip-on Earrings
- Seaman Schepps Turbo Shell Earrings with AmethystBy Patricia Schepps Vaill for Seaman ScheppsLocated in Darnestown, MDThese classic Seaman Schepps turbo shell earrings have richly colored amethyst terminals. The stones are faceted. The earrings are 14 karat gold, ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsAmethyst, 14k Gold
- Seaman Schepps Gold Swirl EarringsBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Darnestown, MDTwo half circles hug each other in these 14 karat gold earrings by Seaman Schepps. Each half circle has several striations for a bit of texture. The earrings have clip backs that can...Category
Vintage 1960s American Retro Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGold, 14k Gold
- Seaman Schepps Gold Shell Ear ClipsBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in New York, NYSeaman Schepps gold shell ear clips Shell motif, 14 karat yellow gold; marked Seaman Schepps, 14k Size: width 0.88 inch, length 1.13 inch Total weigh...Category
Vintage 1980s Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Seaman Schepps Turbo Shell and Sapphire Gold EarringsBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Houston, TXThese vintage earrings from Seaman Schepps feature mother of pearl with sapphire cabochons at the ends set in 18 karat yellow gold. These are ver...Category
20th Century American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsSapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold