Seaman Schepps: A Century of New York Jewelry Design 1904-2004

September 9, 2004 - January 2, 2005

This retrospective exhibition traces the career of “America’s Court Jeweler” known for his unique ability to juxtapose materials, objects and bold color combinations as a statement on the changing roles of women in American society. Exemplary of a production studio of the Arts & Crafts Movement, Schepps served as designer and employed a small number of highly skilled craftsmen to create one of a kind works of art.

Indicative of Schepps’ work are combinations of found objects with polished and carved stones, fusions of precious and non-precious materials, like gold and wood link bracelets or shell and diamond earrings. Seaman’s work characterized a new approach to jewelry, one that reflected a society in which strong, independent women selected and purchased their own jewelry, not so much for its great value as for its bold personality and style.

Featuring approximately 150 pieces of jewelry, this exhibition will be supplemented with design renderings, reproductions from fashion publications, jewelry molds and other necessary implements to establish an atmosphere for the viewer.

Seaman Schepps: A Century of New York Jewelry Design is accompanied by a full-color catalog, published by Vendome Press, with essays by jewelry historian Janet Zapata and Seaman Schepps’ granddaughter Amanda Vaill.