Information on some of the history, the artists, and the makers of the fine jewelry we find. Our mission is to provide as much educational background as we can.
History of Rebajes and Renoir/Matisse
Frank Rebajes, a craftsman who started in New York’s Greenwich Village, along with Jerry Fels and two partners who started the Renoir/Matisse Company in Hollywood, California, are two of the most recognized and respected names in copper art jewelry. These post war/mid-century artisans designed multiple iconic pieces with copper and eventually worked with several other metals as their fame grew.
The History of the Name Sajen
In 1987, newlywed Marianna and Richard Jacobs lived in Bali where they studied, taught and learned how to make jewelry in a silver factory. One daily tradition of the Balinese culture was making exquisite "offerings" to appease the gods and to create balance. Each offering could be complex or simple. The Balinese word for "Offerings" is "Sajen", the trademark of their jewelry. Their journey led them to the "Offerings Story" in Putney, VT.
History of Great Falls Metal Works (GFMW)
Jan Palombo, an artist and her machinist husband, Michael Brothers founded the Great Falls Metalwork company in 1968. Originally located in a silk mill near the Great Falls in Paterson, NJ. Their original intent was to provide a “before their time” environmentally friendly jewelry business and they followed several European jewelers who practiced what is now known as green manufacturing.
Their daughter, Flora, is the current owner and artisan and continued the tradition by using certified recycled precious metals, recycled all materials and uses less chemicals in favor of a more labor-intensive manufacturing process.
History of Bennett Clasps
Bennett clasps were the standard for most mid-century and after bolo ties and any other item that required that type of pressure clasp. Bolos can be aged by the type of clasp on the back. Pre-1950s there was no clasp and the cords were drawn through a couple of loops.
In mid 50s to the mid 60s, the Bennett C-31 Pat Pending clasp came on the market (this piece). Bennett did not make any of the Bolo ties, but supplied the backs to artisans.
In the mid 60s, the C-31 stamp mysteriously disappeared from the clasp and only Pat Pending remained. In the late 80s after Mr. Bennett passed, the blanks were purchased by another individual and were then produced without any marks. Fun fact is that there is there is no verification that any type of patent was ever filed and there is no record of who Bennett actually was.