American Modernist Jewelry Exhibition-Dallas Museum of Art

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[100] Art Smith Sterling Necklace copy

“From the Village to Vogue:The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith” is currently on view at the Dallas Museum of Art. Other jewelers of the period are included in the exhibition.
I believe “this area” of collecting is still EXTREMELY undervalued because the works are like miniature sculptures that you can wear and the jewelry is getting more and more difficult to find.

Harry Bertoia

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Harry Bertoia was the head of the metalsmith department at Cranbrook Academy of Art from 1939-1943. He is well known for the famous “diamond” chair manufactured by Knoll. He also made beautiful sculptures. Less well known is the marvelous jewelry he made, one of my favorites is shown here.

This Necklace was made by Bertoia as a gift for Eliel Saarinen’s wife, Loja while Saarinen was president of the Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Check out the cover lot at Christie’s Auction 6/12/2014 for a wonderful Bertoia sculpture going up for sale.

Artist Designed Jewelry

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Artist Designed jewelry is one of the hottest collectibles in the design world right now. Many artists including Calder, Picasso, Jean Arp, Man Ray, Bertoia all designed and some even made the jewelry themselves. This is a Jean Arp pendant designed in 1965-66 and manufactured by Francois Hugo. This was made as an edition of 6 plus 2 artist proofs.

He took my breath away

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Three times in my life have I been blown away by a designers work. Ettore Sottsass, Gaetano Pesce and now with Joris Laarman. I met Joris during his first exhibition of the Bone series at Design Miami 8 years ago. He had only created 2 prototypes at that time. I knew a star was born.