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So ... I feel ... if you feel that way ... let's see what you can do with the man who made bunnies. Shall we commence?
It's the turn of the century. There's a Jewelry Salesman out there working for Marcus. Let's call him--quaintly enough--JS. JS is John D. Rockefeller's jewelry man. JD clearly likes JS. He tells JS that if he starts his own business ... he will buy most of his jewelry from him. Not only that ... but he will tell friends and family to do the same. And so ... in 1922 ... JS opens his New York City upstairs boutique away from the maddening noise ... equipped with a ready-made top of the line clientele list.
And they bought and they bought. JS had a clean line of Art Deco jewelry. He had integrity. He had discretion. He knew jewelry. It was Prohibition. Everyone was spending their spare time in speakeasies. So JS made Bunny Waiter Brooches carrying trays of drinks. It was his little protest statement. They were gorgeous. One wore red ruby pants with a diamond jacket with emerald lapels and cuffs. Sapphires trimmed a napkin he was holding. Triangular diamonds formed the champagne glasses.
JS had great rapport with his clientele. He made little house brooches that were replicas of their homes. These home brooches were stunning and intricate and reflected for the buyer his level of wealth for the world to see. How many people do you know that can wear their house on their breasts. Their hearts maybe ... but their houses?... JS retired in 1958 and turned his business over to Robert Gibson who was succeeded in turn by his son Robert Gibson, Jr. And the archive of designs grew.
And those in the know knew who he was. Do you? As an addendum ... a slight treat if you will ... a little teaser just to show you I can stump you whenever the mood strikes me ... I pose this last question which has nothing to do with jewelry ... but will hopefully inspire you to send me two sets of answers. The first question is--of course--who is JS? And the second question is as follows: In a deck of cards there are four Kings. Each King represents a great monarch from history. Who are they? And with what suit are they each represented? No using Google. That would be cheating. And we don't cheat ... do we?
Und dat iss dat.
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And there ya have it. That's it for this week folks. Catch you all next week. Benjamin Mark
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