Library & Archives

Manuscript Collections

Collection 20

Henry W. Bohling (1874-1958)

Jewelry Design Scrapbooks, 1883-1930

Processed by

Doris K. Handzo

Edited by

Gregory J. Plunges

Monmouth County Historical Association
70 Court Street
Freehold, New Jersey

October 1980

INTRODUCTION

Henry W. Bohling was born in 1874 in New York City. He spent his early years in Jersey City, N.J. and lived for many years in Ridgewood, N.J. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Martha C. LiGon, Little Silver, N.J. on October 22, 1958.

Henry Bohling was apprenticed to the jewelry firm of Randell, Baremore and Billings, Maiden Lane and Nassau St., New York City for five years -- about 1890 - 1895. He worked for this firm for a number of years after his apprenticeship, becoming a designer and manufacturing jeweler. He afterward worked for the firm of C. Irving Washburn. His work primarily consisted of designing and manufacturing jewelry by hand for members of the exclusive "400" of New York society.

DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION

The collection consists of working scrapbooks assembled by Henry Bohling containing designs for a wide variety of jewelry. The great majority of these drawings were made by Mr. Bohling himself. Some designs, however, are dated prior to the period of his apprenticeship, and some are photographs of jewelry clipped from magazines. The drawings are in pencil or watercolors. Facets of diamonds and other precious stones are precisely drawn and the colors are exquisitely shaded. Some of the designs show gold filligree or enamel work.

The jewelry pieces include pins, earrings, rings, watches, bracelets, belt buckles, necklaces, tiepins, cameo frames, tiaras, combs, and many different kinds of jeweled crosses. Henry Bohling also included designs of commemorative medallions, jeweled initials, and monogams. Precious and semi-precios stones were designed in the form of stars, swords, fleurs-de-lys, flowers, insects, birds, and animals.

PROVENANCE: Acquired in 1963, a gift of Mrs. Martha C. LiGon of Little Silver, NJ, Henry Bohling's daughter.

RESTRICTIONS: None.

SIZE OF COLLECTION: 4 items

CONTAINER LIST

BOX / CONTENTS

1 / Jewelry design scrapbooks, 1883 - 1930. 2 volumes.

2 / Jewelry design scrapbooks, 1890 - 1930. 2 volumes.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Monmouth County Historical Association Library and Archives, Collection 20. Henry W. Bohling Jewelry Design Scrapbooks. Biographical mss. in collection.

"Obituary" Red Bank Register, 1958 October 23

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