Marchak
Joseph Marchak (1854 – 1918) was fourteen when he left his home in Ignatovka for Kiev. There he found an apprenticeship with a jewelry manufacturer and after ten years he left to set up his business in 1878. The same year he married Elizabeth Fedorevna with whom had eight children. He began by making gold chains and within ten years he moved premises several times to settle at 4, Kreschatik. There he employed a team of goldsmiths and other craftsmen like engravers and setters. He even began a series of apprenticeships in goldsmithing, chasing, and even enameling. Then in 1891 he traveled to the Franco-Russian exhibition in Moscow which pushed his career further. In 1900, his firm decided to show at the Exposition Universelle in Paris where they were awarded a silver medal. Marchak won a gold medal at the Saint Petersburg International Artistic Exhibition in 1902, and a Grand Prix at the Liege Universal and International Exhibition in 1905. 1913 marked the 300th anniversary of Romanov rule and Marchak was commissioned to create commemorative pieces for the family. The outbreak of World War I became challenging for the firm and Joseph’s youngest son Alexander (1892 – 1975) in Paris was returning to join his father in the business. Upon return he had to join the military and passed away in 1918. The shop closed and within six months Alexander and his family were forced to flee to Paris. Fluent in French, Alexander and his family set up a jewelry business at 48, Rue Cambon.
In 1922 he entered a partnership with Robert Linzeler a jeweler (who you can read about under Linzeler). The company was called ‘Linzeler et Marchak’. In 1924 they opened a second location in Nice. Together they exhibited at the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. By 1926 however the partnership had ended. Marchak continued on his own and during the 1930s he continued to exhibit widely. When World War II started his family left for Savoy leaving the shop to be run by a manager. After the war he returned and hired designer Alexander Diringer who was part of the team at Cartier then Sterlé. He also hired Jacques Verger a salesman who worked for Ostertag and Sterlé. Alexander retired in 1957 and Verger acquired the firm from him. He even opened branches in New York and Chicago. This success brought him clients like the King of Morocco. Verger sold the company in 1988.
In 1922 he entered a partnership with Robert Linzeler a jeweler (who you can read about under Linzeler). The company was called ‘Linzeler et Marchak’. In 1924 they opened a second location in Nice. Together they exhibited at the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. By 1926 however the partnership had ended. Marchak continued on his own and during the 1930s he continued to exhibit widely. When World War II started his family left for Savoy leaving the shop to be run by a manager. After the war he returned and hired designer Alexander Diringer who was part of the team at Cartier then Sterlé. He also hired Jacques Verger a salesman who worked for Ostertag and Sterlé. Alexander retired in 1957 and Verger acquired the firm from him. He even opened branches in New York and Chicago. This success brought him clients like the King of Morocco. Verger sold the company in 1988.
