KUZMANOVIC, Natasha

[223] pp.

The Vendome Press

2007

1st Edition

11 1/4" x 11 1/2"

Dazzling and celebrity-filled, this anecdote-packed account of Raymond C. Yard and his remarkable jewelry is a classic rags-to-riches tale.

In 1898, Raymond C. Yard began his career in the jewelry business as a door boy at Marcus & Co. It was during this period that the newly affluent American industrial families began to patronize American jewelers like Tiffany & Co. Yard was encouraged by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., to open his own company; Rockefeller recommended the Yard firm to his family and connections, and shortly Yard was creating jewels for the Woolworth, Flagler, DuPont, Harriman, and Vanderbilt families.

The creations of the Yard company were always characterized by the highest-quality gems, intricate settings, timeless style, and a sly sense of whimsy.

A study of the life and designs of American jeweller Raymond Yard. Yard established his firm in 1922 under the patronage of John D. Rockefeller Jr.. His art deco designs, dripping with precious stones and frequently displaying a whimsical style, were widely collected by the American elite, including Joan Crawford. The book is a comprehensive history of Yard the man and Yard the firm, his clients and his designs. The text is complemented by archival images and three hundred photographs of jewellery pieces.