1920s Jewelry

An Art Deco, sapphire and diamond bracelet, by Black Starr & Frost, of geometric design, set with Edwardian-cut and baguette-cut diamonds and calibré and faceted, rectangle cut sapphires. Composed of ten square and ten rectangular links, set with fifty-eight square, rectangular and triangular shaped sapphires, weighing approximately 6.50ct and thirty baguette, sixty European-cut and twenty round-cut diamonds, weighing approximately 14.00ct, estimated colour G/H, clarity VS2/SI1 with an invisible clasp. Mounted in platinum. Signed B. S. & F. for Black Starr & Frost, numbered 1220, circa 1925. Isaac Marquand founded Marquand & Co, in 1810, with premises at 166, then 164 Broadway New York. He was joined in partnership by Erastus Barton, an English master craftsman and William Black and Henry Ball began their apprenticeships. Marquand & Co Moved to 181 Broadway, in 1833 and Ball and Black became partners. In 1839 the Marquand family withdrew from the business. Ball and Black brought in their cashier, Erastus O. Tompkins and changed the company name to Ball, Tompkins & Black. In 1858 they built 247 Broadway and Murray Street. Tompkins died in 1851. The name was changed to Ball, Black & Company and they exhibited a gold tea set at the Crystal Palace World’s Exposition, in 1851. They built the first fire-proof building, with the original safe deposit system, at Broadway and Prince Street, in 1860. When the elder members of the firm retired Robert C. Black, the son of William Black, brought Cortlandt Starr and Aaron V. Frost into the partnership. They had a long period of training with the company. It became Black, Starr & Frost and in 1876 built a store at Fifth Avenue and Twenty-Eighth Street and also had premises at Fifth Avenue and Thirty-Ninth Street. In Autumn 1912 they moved to Fifth Avenue and Forty-Eighth Street. Witherbee Black was later president and R. Clifford Black, a vice president. The company was purchased by Gorham Silver Company in 1929, and the name to Black, Starr & Frost — Gorham. From 1940 it was Black, Starr and Gorham. The name reverted to Black, Starr & Frost in 1960 when the company was bought by Marcus & Co. Black Starr & Frost purchased Cartier USA, in 1962. In 1972 Kay Jewelers...

Circa 1920s Edwardian Black Star and Frost Crown brooch, Platinum top and Yellow Gold backed. Measuring 1 3/8 inch in length and 5/8 inch in heigh...