Frank Walter Lawrence
Frank Walter Lawrence was born November 2nd 1864 in Baltimore, MD. Lawrence had multiple apprenticeships in different jewelry businesses on the east cost and established his first business in Newark in 1889, before relocating to New York City in 1894 yet he is believed to already have been well known in jewelry. In 1898 he opened his retail shop. In 1905 he moved to 322 Fifth Avenue and operated there successfully for 10 years. On April 2, 1913 he incorporated his company and his designs changed to be stamped “INC” in addition to the F.W.L before moving to 527 Fifth Avenue in 1915. Around that time he began using fragments of ancient cups and bowls in his pieces some Phoenician glass and Cyprian glass. Frank Lawrence passed on March 10th 1929 leaving his cousins to run the company. The company sustained and continued to operate until 1975 when the firm finally closed.