GUSTAV MANZ™
Her big ears mark her as African. Also her tusks: Only males of the Asiatic species grow ivory. Nonetheless, we nicknamed this bracelet Gunda to honor the spirit of the wild-caught Asian male elephant that was a star attraction at New York Zoological Park (aka Bronx Zoo) in the early 1900s, when William Temple Hornaday was director.
The bangle's ornament, replicated from an original Manz casting, derives from his design for a platinum and pave-set diamond elephant brooch. Variations of the pin were made for Cartier, Black Starr & Frost, Udall & Balllou and others in the 1920s.
Production notes for platinum and diamond elephant brooch,
pave-set with 80 stones, sold to Cartier on September 19, 1925
Gustav Manz stockbook, Winterthur
The Gunda Bangle (top and above)
GUSTAV MANZ™
GUSTAV MANZ™
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Copyright © Laura Mathews, 2014
All Rights Reserved
GUSTAV MANZ LLC
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All images (c) Gustav Manz LLC
