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Marsh & Co.
Coral and diamond bracelet, circa 1935
- Estimate
- CHF10,000 - 15,000€10,700 - 16,000$12,000 - 18,000
CHF16,510
Lot Details
Of openwork design, each panel depicting a Japanese landscape in blackened steel, embellished with polished coral and circular-cut diamond accents, length approximately 155mm, signed Marsh's.
Accompanied by a gemmological report.
Accompanied by a gemmological report.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
MARSH & CO.
Marsh & Co, formerly known as G.T. Marsh & Co., was founded in 1876 in San Francisco, by Australian-born George Turner Marsh. At the age of fifteen, Marsh left Richmond with his family, who had decided to emigrate to the United States. The journey across continents included a transit via Japan, which later proved to be one of the most formative experiences of Marsh’s career. Instantly enamoured with the country and its culture, he convinced his parents to let him stay in Yokohama, where his father helped him find work at a firm specialised in the import and export of tea.
Marsh only joined his family in San Francisco several years later. Inspired by his time in Japan, he opened what would be one of the first Asian Art galleries in the United States. The company specialised in art and antiques, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that it began producing jewellery.
As fascination in the West grew for the East, especially during the Art Deco period with the expansion of travel and trade, Marsh channelled the allure of Asia to shape the aesthetics of his creations. Unique in their approach and distinctive in their style, the designs incorporated industrial metals to enhance traditional Asian motifs, resulting in a captivating amalgam of modernity and exoticism. Rarely signed, the jewels were easily recognisable, notably for their fusion of blackened steel with materials such as coral, jade, and pearl, which echoed Marsh’s ideals surrounding exploration and innovation.
The company remained family-run through the third generation, until it closed its doors in 2001. To this day, the exquisite creations by Marsh & Co have become collectibles in the market and are cherished for their unique blend of cultural symbolism, exceptional craftsmanship, and timeless beauty, serving as a testament to the enduring impact of cross-cultural and artistic exchange.
Marsh & Co, formerly known as G.T. Marsh & Co., was founded in 1876 in San Francisco, by Australian-born George Turner Marsh. At the age of fifteen, Marsh left Richmond with his family, who had decided to emigrate to the United States. The journey across continents included a transit via Japan, which later proved to be one of the most formative experiences of Marsh’s career. Instantly enamoured with the country and its culture, he convinced his parents to let him stay in Yokohama, where his father helped him find work at a firm specialised in the import and export of tea.
Marsh only joined his family in San Francisco several years later. Inspired by his time in Japan, he opened what would be one of the first Asian Art galleries in the United States. The company specialised in art and antiques, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that it began producing jewellery.
As fascination in the West grew for the East, especially during the Art Deco period with the expansion of travel and trade, Marsh channelled the allure of Asia to shape the aesthetics of his creations. Unique in their approach and distinctive in their style, the designs incorporated industrial metals to enhance traditional Asian motifs, resulting in a captivating amalgam of modernity and exoticism. Rarely signed, the jewels were easily recognisable, notably for their fusion of blackened steel with materials such as coral, jade, and pearl, which echoed Marsh’s ideals surrounding exploration and innovation.
The company remained family-run through the third generation, until it closed its doors in 2001. To this day, the exquisite creations by Marsh & Co have become collectibles in the market and are cherished for their unique blend of cultural symbolism, exceptional craftsmanship, and timeless beauty, serving as a testament to the enduring impact of cross-cultural and artistic exchange.
Provenance