12 Facts About Paul Flato

Paul Edmond Flato was born in 1900 in Shiner, Texas, son of prominent Texas cattleman Rudolph, and Julia Burow Flato, a German immigrant.

Paul Flato died on July 17,1999, having returned to Texas late in life, and received full column obituary in The New York Times.

Paul Flato was said to have become interested in jewelry at the age of ten, watching nomadic Gypsies make silver-wire items for sale.

Paul Flato grew up in a town founded by his westward pioneering great-grandparents, earlier German immigrants who purchased Mexican land.

Paul Flato employed several designers, including future luminaries David Webb, George W Headley and Count Fulco di Verdura.

Paul Flato was reportedly Harry Winston's largest client when Winston was strictly a wholesale dealer.

Paul Flato was well known for "witty and flamboyant designs" and Art Deco jewelry, which since his death regularly fetches hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction, including at Sotheby's and Christie's.

Paul Flato made a diamond and ruby studded corset bracelet, based on Mae West's undergarment, and a "gold digger" bracelet with a gold pick-ax.

Paul Flato started a trend with black enamel and jeweled encrusted initials, and his solid gold screw and nut cufflinks were featured on the cover of "Masterpieces of American Jewelry", a book released with an exhibition of the same name, organized by the American Folk Art Museum in 2004, which featured seven Flato pieces.

Paul Flato was convicted in 1943 of fraudulently pawning $100,000 in jewels that colleagues and clients had entrusted to him, and served 16 months in Sing Sing Penitentiary.

Paul Flato spent his final years surrounded by his family.

Paul Flato was survived by his three daughters, Catharine Dennis, Barbara McCluer, and Susan Flato.