Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Art to Wear

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I had been buying fabulous jewelry from the renowned contemporary designer and maker, Amy Kahn Russell, for many years when she and her jewelry rep, Sallie MacIntosh, contacted me with intriguing news. They told me that they had located enamel painters, based in the Russian countryside, who were enameling miniatures with extraordinary skill. We agreed to collaborate on one-of-a-kind paintings (art to wear in the truest sense) solely for my shop.

Once these signed miniatures are completed, Amy sets them with gemstone borders. They then become pins/pendants, extraordinary necklaces, and even bracelets. One piece, which had all four Alphonse Mucha's Four Seasons-each about 4" by 3" and ensconced with gemstones and carnelian florals and other shapes, took almost two years to put together. It was just bought by a collector who is getting a custom-made case to hang on her wall when not wearing it. In my shop I currently have pieces replicating Erte, Klimpt, Mucha, and others.

It is a rare treat to find jewelry that demonstrates such a high level of artistic merit. One could truly observe these pieces for days and still continuously find striking details in the craftsmanship. They are a special treasure in my shop.

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Interested in giving one of these masterful works a home? Email me at adornmentdiva@gmail.com to talk about purchasing! The prices for these very limited pieces are wonderfully reasonable, starting at around $500.