Ward Landrigan preserves the legacy pieces of jewelers Fulco di Verdura and Suzanne Belperon
Who could have imagined that a childhood internship arranged by the Boy Scouts at a local New Jersey jeweler would lead Ward Landrigan to Sotheby’s, Elizabeth Taylor, and beyond? Landrigan, an art history student, was recruited by Parke Burnett/Sotheby’s when the unexpected death of a colleague propelled his career forward. At age 24, she became head of the jewelry department at an American auction house, responsible for selling world-famous jewelry. Eight years later, in 1973, Landrigan started an estate jewelry business. Over the years, he became particularly interested in the work of Fulco di Verdura (whose cuffs were worn by Coco Chanel) and Suzanne Belperon, and acquired the company in 1984 and 1999, respectively. In this way, he became both a protector and an iterator of two important artistic heritages. A true gentleman, Landrigan also continued to uphold the art of chivalry.
Marina Yee, a reclusive yet highly influential member of the Antwerp Six
She may have been the most elusive of the Antwerp Six, but Marina E’s influence on fashion is undeniable. Her own fashion work focused on functionality and the deconstruction of traditional men’s clothing. A woman of great depth, Yi struggled with her position in art and fashion. She took a break from design around 1989 and moved to Belgium, where she ran a cafe, taught, created costumes for theater, and worked for others. In 2018, she was approached by Tokyo boutique Laila to create clothing for sale. Three years later, she started working again under the label MY Collection.
