MARCUS & CO. EARLY 20TH CENTURY EMERALD AND DIAMOND RING

Herman Marcus, formerly an associate of Charles Tiffany, partnered with his son William to establish Marcus and Co. The firm became a leading New York jeweller in the early days of the 20th century. Herman Marcus, of European heritage, brought a wealth of knowledge in the traditional areas of study such as literature and painting and was respected for his fine connoisseurship. Their greatest fame came from their bold and colourful interpretations of European Art Nouveau designs. Strong, vibrant colours replaced the delicate pastels usually associated with the period, and established Marcus and Co. as an important force in American jewellery design, in direct competition with Tiffany and Co.