| Yard |
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American jeweler best known for its Art Deco jewelry. In 1922, the firm’s founder, Raymond Yard, opened a location at 607 Fifth Avenue, New York. Previously, Yard been employed at Marcus and Co. Over the course of twenty-five years, he had worked his way up from door-boy to head salesperson. With the encouragement of long-time client John D. Rockefeller, Yard left his position and set a shop of his own.
His firm attracted a selective clientiele, including Rockefeller and his friends, with a lovely selection of extravagent Art Deco jewels as well as more whimsical pieces. One collection, inspired by Walt Disney’s Bugs Bunny, remains noteworthy. Constructed in platinum and encrusted with precious stones, the brooches in the collection feature a rabbit performing a variety of tasks: fishing, getting married, working as a soldier, serving martinis. In 1958, Yard turned the business over to Robert Gibson, one of his employees. Raymond Yard is now owned and managed by Gibson’s son. It still offers finely crafted jewelry hailing to its Deco origin. |