Frank Rebajes entered the world on February 6, 1906, in the Dominican Republic, descending from Spanish immigrants hailing from Mallorca. His father operated a modest workshop dedicated to crafting and mending footwear, providing the environment where young Francisco spent his youth, tinkering with equipment and assisting in the labor. At sixteen, having received only a minimal schooling that held little appeal for him, Francisco traveled to the United States seeking financial stability. He survived through various casual gigs until the onset of the Great Depression left him destitute. In this state, he scavenged tin cans and scrap metal, eventually fashioning animal sculptures, starting with a diminutive metal steed.
By 1931, Francisco Rebadji took part in an inaugural street art showcase within Washington Square. His meticulously arranged animal pieces, presented on an iron table, caught the eye of the Whitney Museum’s director at the time. Consequently, Rebadji secured a purchase for all ten figurines for a sum of $30.
Utilizing these funds, the young artist leased a barn in Greenwich Village, launching his artistic and commercial endeavors. He produced metal objects, jewelry, and animal figures, later incorporating copper into his work. During a gathering in Greenwich Village in 1932, he encountered Paulina Schwartz, who would become his wife. His fortunes soon rose; by 1941, his first Fifth Avenue showroom opened, accompanied by a substantial workshop on 17th Street employing forty staff members.
Francisco Rebadji personally crafted every item bearing his name, ranging from costume jewelry to ashtrays, plates, wall decorations, and various novelties. While copper was the primary material, silver was occasionally used, particularly during wartime when copper was requisitioned for military production. Rebadji and Paulina managed the enterprise until the early 1960s, at which point they sold the company and relocated to Spain. There, Francisco continued his artistic pursuits until he passed away in 1990.
