TIDBITS 02/28/10

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We encourage you to forward this email to friends and colleagues. =========================================== A Famous Jeweler's Fish He is one of the most famous jewelers to have graced the noble arena of the world's jewelry elite. He was born in 1830 to a family of drapers. Alas ... or hallelujah ... depending on your point of view ... he did not like the textile business. He wanted to be--of all unimaginable things--a jeweler. Perhaps there was a touch of lunacy that ran in his family. Perhaps it was a touch of genius. If lunacy and normality are judged by the majority ... then who is it I wonder that judges genius? Perhaps in this case you should be the arbiter.

The Fish represents the fecund life of the oceans. It is the womb that gives birth to all life on our planet. Civilization came to humanity via the Fish. The Sumeria Enki, the Babylonian Oannes, the Phoenician Dagon ... they were all fish-headed gods. They emerged from the deep by day to teach ... and returned to their oceans at night.

At 14 years of age our jeweler-to-be began an apprenticeship in the workshop Jules Chaise and subsequently plied his trade with Tixier-Deschamps a famous jeweler at the Palais Royal. At 28 years of age he opened his first boutique under the arches of the Palais Royal. He was an immediate success.

The fish headdress of the priests of Enki-Oannes ultimately became the miters of Christian bishops. Moon goddesses were depicted as half fish ... mermaids to the agnostics amongst you. When it came to the fertility goddesses such as Frigga ... they were honored by having fish eaten on their day--Friday--a name derived from the name of the goddess herself.

Then ... in 1893 ... a scant 35 years later ... he became first jeweler to open a store in the Place Vendôme ... a high level arena for the aristocracy and of the upper class bourgeoisie of Paris. His creativity bordered on brashness. He won awards at the Universal Exhibitions of 1867 and 1889. He established his reputation and put himself on the map as one of the greatest jewelers in the world.

The fish presides in mythological and astrological lore. Hindu: Manu is towed to land over a raging sea by a giant fish who ultimately reveals himself as Brahma or Vishnu. Celtic: Fintan survives the Flood by turning into a salmon. While roasting a salmon Finn burns his thumb and then sucks it ... thereby gaining wisdom.

Our jeweler founded a French family dynasty. Four generations helped the name become a worldwide leader in the High Jewelry market. His name has expanded his brand to the four corners of the globe. Who is he you may well ask. To tell or not to tell ... that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler to divulge a name or to take refuge in secrecy and let all quiver in their quests for an answer. Quiver away I say. I will let you know next week.

As to the fish ... ah ... well ... I have an image of such beastie in the form of an 18 karat yellow gold diamond and ruby bracelet which sold in 1998 for $13,800. Rather a handsome little creature ... even if I must say. Wanna see?

For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I direct you to my home page at

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where you will scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that says Current Tidbits ... and you will see represented on our pages an image of a fish-bracelet of delightful demeanor born at the hands of a jewelry family of major consequence. And there ya have it. That's it for this week folks. Catch you all next week. Benjamin Mark