Gustave Sherman

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Gustave Sherman
Born1910 (1910)
Montreal, Quebec
Died1984
Known forCanadian costume jewellery maker

Guatave Sherman ("Gus") (1910 – 1984) was a Canadian costume jewellery maker who started Sherman & Company Ltd. (1949-1980). In time, his costume jewellery was sold across Canada and the United States.[1] "Sherman is the most recognized and collectible costume jewellery in Canada," wrote a long-time collector.[2]

Biography

Sherman was born in Montreal to Jewish parents from Lithuania.[3] He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator[2] during the Second World War and after he was demobbed, he worked in insurance and jewellery sales.[1] In February 1949,[4] he began Sherman & Company Ltd. in Outremont,[4] a borough of Montreal, with a Ukrainian employee named Dmytro ("Jimmy")[2] Kurica, an outstanding craftsman and jewellery maker.[1] Sherman oversaw every detail of design, manufacturing and marketing. The result was quality costume jewellery which set the standard in Canada among leading firms such as Boucher and Trifari.[2]

Sherman made his business part of the growing market for costume jewellery, but used top quality Swarovski crystals, new and different cuts and colours, and superior findings and plating methods by contrast with most other jewellery makers.[5] The company's primary stone supplier was GH Ashley in Toronto.[5]

By the 1950s, Sherman had established himself as Canada’s foremost costume jeweler, and his work was starting to appear on runways in Paris and New York.[3] In 1956, Dior asked him for a new crystal inspired by the northern-lights and the company responded with Aurora Borealis, a multicoloured coating over simulated crystals for the holiday season.[1] It is still popular in his jewellery today, along with many other colours and effects.[2]

Sherman never compromised quality and his company sold jewellery which was in large department stores, high end boutiques and also in smaller stores. It is praised today for its artistic use of colour, sense of movement, three-dimensional effect and the resulting sophistication and elegance.[2] It is extensive branded.[6][7][8]

Selected public collections

Sherman jewellery is collected in depth by the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto (92 objects)[9] and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts[10]

Legacy

In 2024, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, New Brunswick held an exhibition titled Gustave Sherman – Jewels of Elegance, organized by the Andrew and Laura McCain Art Gallery in Florenceville, NB.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Palmer, Alexandra (2022). Canadian Modern. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-88854-5329. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Delany, Terry (2000). "article: Jewelry by G.Sherman & Company LTD". Vintage Fashion & Costume Jewelry Magazine (2). Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Makers". www.collectorsweekly.com. Collectors Weekly. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b "History". gshermanjewels.com. Sherman grandson. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Melinda. "Article". www.costumejewelrycollectors.com/vintage-costume-jewelry-research. CJCR. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  6. ^ Vandor, Dara. "Article". www.waddingtons.ca. Waddingtons Auction House, Toronto. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Makers". vintagecostumejewelryblog.blogspot.com. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  8. ^ Lewis, Melinda. "Article". www.costumejewelrycollectors.com. CJCR. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Collection". collections.rom.on.ca. Royal Ontario Museum. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Collection". collections.mfa.org. Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Exhibitions". beaverbrookartgallery.org. Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Retrieved 7 July 2024.

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://mdwiki.org/wiki/Gustave_Sherman"