It’s rare to see a jeweler’s self-portrait, executed not in paint on canvas, but as a gold jewelry piece. Such jewelry masterpiece was created by Edward W Flanagan (1906-1983), an artist, designer, and jeweler living in Naples, Florida. It took him a month to create this piece, in honor of the 10th anniversary of his shop, Edward Flanagan Jewelers, 247 Worth Avenue, Palm Beach.

Edward Flanagan and his wife, Shirley, opened their jewelry shop in 1953, and ran the jewelry boutique together, as it was their family business. Florida native, Shirley Eleanor Flanagan (1913 – 1971) married Edward W Flanagan, who was born in Ohio, in 1936. They had one daughter, Shirley G Flanagan, born in 1943.

Edward Flanagan created unique artistic jewelry using gold, platinum, diamonds, and natural stones. The selection of precious stones was diverse, including rubies, sapphires, emeralds, tourmalines, tanzanites. In some of his designs he also used Florentine enamel.

The jewelry designs often featured nautical themes—various fish species, seahorses, starfish, turtles, ship wheels, sails and ships. His inspiration for the sea was natural, as Shirley and Edward lived in a resort town on the beautiful Atlantic coast.

Incorporation of Edward Flanagan Jewelers

On October 3, 1960, the firm was incorporated as Edward Flanagan Jewelers, Inc. Advertisements for Flanagan’s unique jewelry frequently graced the pages of the Palm Beach Life magazine in the 1950-70s. Thanks to these advertisements, the undeservedly forgotten jeweler Edward Flanagan can be remembered today.

After the death of Edward Flanagan the company’s history which spanned thirty years, ended.

Edward Flanagan Jewelry in ads