The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Gustav Manz, 1865‑1946.

Title: Papers

Dates: 1909-1965

Call No.: Col. 53

Acc. No.: 74x401

Quantity: 12 volumes and 1 microfilm reel

Location: 14 B 3

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Gustav Manz (1865‑1946) was a German‑born jeweler/goldsmith who worked in New York City. He created pieces for many of the well‑known firms of the day, including Tiffany, Cartier, A. A. Vantine, and Bailey, Banks and Biddle. Manz's forte was animal sculpture.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Consists of 3 manuscript volumes, 9 printed volumes, and one microfilm reel (M‑2430). The manuscript volumes are illustrated design and stock books that record Manz's work (mostly rings, pendants, brooches and pins) up to about 1925. The printed volumes are works on jewelry and gemstones. The microfilm records the contents of a small family photo album, and of a scrapbook assembled by Manz's daughter, Doris. The scrapbook contains clippings, photographs, an obituary, and letters written by Doris in attempts to document some of her late father's work. Some of Manz's later, more imposing pieces are depicted in the scrapbook, including a number of commissions done for churches.

ORGANIZATION

The volumes are arranged in accession number order, first the manuscript volumes (design and stock books), followed by the printed volumes. The microfilm reel (number M-2430) is housed with the other microfilm reels.

PROVENANCE

Gift of Doris Manz Eastman (Mrs. Albert Gleaves Eastman).

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Jewelry.

Jewelry trade - New York (State) - New York.

Rings - New York (State) - New York.

Pendants (Jewelry) - New York (State) - New York.

Brooches.

Gold jewelry - New York (State) - New York.

Gems.

Precious stones.

Church plate - New York (State) - New York.

Drawings.

Photoprints.

Clippings.

Letters.

Jewelers.

Goldsmiths.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 14 B 3

Manuscript volumes:

74x401.1 Mountings, 1914 - 1917

74x401.2 Stock Book, 1917 - 1923 (Vol. 2 has several pages missing: p. 119; pp. 185-6 and pp.209-210; also p. 21 has a section cut out.)

74x401.3 Stock Book 1923 - 1925 (Vol. 3 is missing pp.1-10 and pages after 214.)

Printed volumes:

74x401.4 Bauer, Dr. Max. Precious Stones. 1904 ed.

74x401.5 Kozminsky, Isidore. The Magic and Science of Jewels and Stones. 1922 ed.

74x401.6 Kunz, George Frederick. The Curious Lore of Precious Stones. 1913 ed.

74x401.7 Kunz, George Frederick. The Magic of Jewels and Charms. 1915 ed.

74x401.8 Kunz, George Frederick. Rings. 1917 ed.

74x401.9 Rogers, Frances and Alice Beard. 5000 Years of Gems and Jewelry. 1940 ed.

74x401.10 Streeter, Edwin W. The Great Diamonds of the World. 1882?.

74x401.11 Wade, Frank B., Diamonds, A Study of the Factors that Govern Their Value. 1916 ed.

74x401.12 Wade, Frank B., A Text-Book of Precious Stones for Jewelers and the Gem-Living Public. 1924 ed.

Microfilm reel number M-2430 Scrapbook and photo album