New York City served as the home to most of America’s finest jewelers of the 19th century. After emigrating from Germany to New York in 1850, Herman Marcus became an associate at Tiffany & Co. A well-educated man with strong connections and a keen sense of style, Hermann left Tiffany in the 1890s to help his two sons build what would become Marcus & Co., a highly respected American jewelry house.
During the early years of the twentieth century, Marcus & Co. produced a variety of Revivalist-style jewelry. Egyptian and Mughal (Indian) inspired pieces were created as in the Renaissance Revival style seen here in the design of this brooch. The use of cabochon emeralds in this piece harkens back to historic Mughal jewelry as well as the brooches and pendants that were popular accessories in the Renaissance.