Seaman Schepps – American Jewelry Designer
Seaman Schepps was born in 1881, the son of an immigrant who grew up in the tenements on the lower east side of New York City. By the time he was twenty-three he had moved to California, opening a jewelry shop in Los Angeles. Years later Schepps returned to New York and opened a jewelry salon on Madison Avenue. It was during the 30s and 40s that Schepps defined his style of Jewelry design, his witty use of precious and semi-precious stones together with man-made materials created an exciting color palette. His jewelry represented great style as opposed to wealth.
One of his most noted designs is earrings of pearlized turbo shells, set with colored gemstones. His clientele ranged from the Duchess of Windsor and Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Andy Warhol, as well as numerous Hollywood screen stars. In 1956 Seaman Schepps business moved to Fifty-eighth and Park Avenue where his Jewelry is still sold today, along with boutiques in Palm Beach and Nantucket.
Information courtesy of Skinner, Inc., March 2012.