Question re: age of Peruzzi Boston sterling ring

[pierrot]

Hello,

This ring has two hallmarks - one on the band ("Peruzzi Boston") and one on the the main piece ("Peruzzi Boston Sterling"). No content mark.

The information I found online about Peruzzi is that they're still located in Florence and have been jewelers there since the 1500s. A Peruzzi brother opened a location in Boston in the early 1930s and sold it to Aldo Fioravanti in 1945 - he closed the Boston store in 1981/1982.

The scroll work on the band is almost worn off completely

I can't find any Peruzzi Boston jewelry similar to it online and am interested in opinions about its age.

Thanks in advance.

[silverly]

Welcome to the forum. I don't know if this helps at all, but the only thing I find in Boston business directory listings for Peruzzi is a Florentine Jewel Shop at 165 (and later 168) Tremont from 1929 to 1932. The names associated with the businesss were G Peruzzi Pitti and Bernardo Pitti.

[pierrot]

Hello silverly,

Thanks so very much for this information - it's very interesting.

I found very little information online - This is the first I'm seeing the additional surname of "Pitti"

From what I found, the Peruzzi's were brothers - and the "G" referenced in your post would probably be "Gino Peruzzi"

I wonder why the Boston business directory listing doesn't go beyond 1932 - puzzling.

Now I want to go on a hunt for more information - may be time to visit the library in person.

Thank you again.

[silverly]

I have found Gino Mario Peruzzi listed in the 1930 census for Boston, Massachusetts. He and his wife Bradford H were listed in the census as jewelers (hand) in the manufacturing jewelers industry. He was born in Florence, Italy and so far as I can tell he immigrated in about 1920. At that time he was listed as a merchant.

Peruzzi may not have wanted to pay to be in the directories, but that's just a guess even it's a not too remote possibility. Also I may just be missing him for whatever reason.

Gino M Peruzzi's 1942 World War II draft registration records him being self employed at Peruzzi Jewel Shop, 336 Boylston, Boston, Massachusetts. So it appears to me that the information you have is pretty good, and you have your maker. I wish it always worked out this well and relatively easily. Sorry for the initial false lead.

[silverly]

After a little more digging, I can tell you that Gino M Peruzzi's wife gave her name as Lena Bradford Holmes Peruzzi on a 1925 U S Passport application. (Census enumerators do record some odd information at times).

[pierrot]

Thank you for your research, silvery - I really appreciate it and I'm sure others will find it useful, too.

[lanilauren]

I had a brooch with the hallmark F.lli Peruzzi STERLING

From my research, F.lli is short for Fratelli and translates as brothers so the hallmark means Peruzzi Brothers Silversmiths. The Peruzzis had a shop both in Florence and in Boston where they made the finest hand made silver jewelry designs.

Here's a picture of the pin and hallmark





Hope this helps

[oel]

Hello Lanilauren,

Welcome to the forum and thanks.

Regards,

Oel

[lanilauren]

Thanks -- I am glad I found this forum.