Raymond C. Yard (1885 – 1964) is considered to be one of the great Art Deco jewelers. After mastering the art of jewelry making at Marcus & Co., Yard opened his own shop at 607 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in 1922. Between 1928 and 1933 he created a series of charming Rabbit Brooches, each of which differs slightly, featuring fine details of gold, diamonds, rubies and sapphires. That the Rabbit Waiter brooch (1930) serves alcoholic drinks during Prohibition adds a certain humor to the whimsy, which would have appealed to Yard’s high-society clientele.
Photographed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
This Red Bead Necklace was crafted from Bakelite (beads and chain links) cellulose acetate, with a metal clasp, and attributed to an unknown American designer. In the twentieth century, plastic manufacturing transformed the American jewelry industry and allowed for the production of fashionable yet affordable pieces. This chain link and cube necklace represents a style that was especially popular during the Depression era and the early 1940s.
Photographed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
This matching Bracelet and Brooch are composed of a vibrant rainbow of resin Lipsticks that humorously assert the decorative nature of cosmetic products. While both by Karl Lagerfeld and the jewelry designer Ugo Correani were known for their postmodern sampling of objects and ideas, the tendency to inflate scale in order to invest drama was a particular strength of Correani.
In the words of Lagerfeld, “He has a magic touch. No one can compare to him . . . He’s modern, not afraid to be oversized, but with the right eye for proportion.”
Photographed as part of the exhibit In Pursuit of Fashion: The Sandy Schreier Collection, on view through May 17th, 2020 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
One of the enduring legacies of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was her elevation of costume jewelry to high fashion. Maison Gripoix, a house that has serviced the couture industry since its founding in 1869, was among her earliest and most frequent collaborators. The company’s specialized pate de verre (glass paste) technique was developed by the founder, Augustine Gripoix, and passed down generationally. Instead of the kiln method employed by other manufacturers, the house pours molten glass directly into the sophisticated metal settings that frame its designs. This meticulous an costly process allows for greater freedom of coloration and form, and lends a subtle effervescence to the floating glass components. This wreath of graduated translucent flower heads (circa 1938) was produced by Gripoix for Chanel and reflects the late 1930s vogue for romantic nature-based motifs.
Photographed as part of the exhibit In Pursuit of Fashion: The Sandy Schreier Collection, on view through May 17th, 2020 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
Summer is in full swing here in the city, and warm weather fashions mean you are showing off more skin. Maybe you are thinking that it’s the perfect time to enhance your summer looks with a few pieces of fine jewelry that you can continue to wear all year long. I know just the plce you should go: the John Hardy boutique on Prince Street in SoHo. Their jewelry is gorgeous and their sale staff is friendly an knowledgeable. Best of all, each piece of jewelry is handmade, so the quality is unmatched.
Established on the island of Bali in Indonesia in 1975, John Hardy is dedicated to the creation of ultimate beauty through artisan hand-crafted jewelry. Their master artisans honor original craft through the perfection of modern design, creating timeless one-of-a-kind pieces that are brilliantly alive.
Founder John Hardy, an artist and visionary, first visited Bali in the 1970s and was enchanted by the island’s sublime beauty. There, he founded an authentic collective with local artisans and, since inception, the company has remained passionately committed to community, artisanship and sustainability.
Each of John Hardy’s distinctive collections convey evocative symbolism and honor the transmission of creative energy from the artisan to the wearer. More than jewelry — an eternal connection to the source of inspiration. For the seekers, the explorers, the storytellers. Let’s take look at what a selection of the designs you’ll find at their store in SoHo.
Bamboo Collection Pendants in Gold with Diamonds
Precious and Tranquil, each piece in the Bamboo Collection reveals elegance and adaptability, and gives back through John Hardy’s“Wear Bamboo, Plant Bamboo” initiative, which ensures the planting of bamboo seedlings in Bali with each sustainable, luxury jewelry purchase, celebrating respect of the earth.
Bamboo Earrings and Rings With Faceted Gemstone
Top: Bamboo Chandelier Earrings with Polished Gemstones
Dot Chandelier Earrings in Hammered Gold
With no beginning and no end, the textured and symmetrical spheres of the Dot Collection epitomize boundless love and infinite possibility. For these earrings, the ancient technique of hand-hammering metal produces lustrous, textured surfaces with a hint of the exotic
Dot Cuff in Silver with Enamel, Dot Drop and Chandelier Earrings with Gemstones
Each tiny circle is applied by hand by dedicated artisans.
Legends Cobra Necklace and Bracelet
The Cobra shedding its skin is a powerful manifestation of the creative life force of reincarnation. Wear items in the Legends Cobra collection to invoke transformation, renewal and vitality.
Legends Cobra Drop Necklaces with Gemstones
Legends Cobra Drop Earrings and Rings
Legends Cobra Opal Ring (Detail)
Cuff with Faceted Gemstones
Legends Macan Pendent Necklace
The spirit of the Macan, or Tiger, is known for its ferocity and perseverance. Wear Legends Macan designs to be imbued with courage, strength and passion.
One-of-a-kind, Hand-hammered Silver Metal Clutch, Displayed with with Legends Macan Doorknocker Earrings
This unique clutch converts to a cross-body bag with an attachable chain strap, which is included.
Assorted Legends Macan Cuffs
Legends Macan Post Earrings (Top) and Rings
Classic Chain Bracelets for Men in Silver and Rubber
John Hardy also makes variety of jewellery styles just for men.
Assorted Mens Bracelets
Braided Chain Cuff-links and Cuff in Blackened Bronze
Mens Classic Dog Tag Necklaces in Assorted Finishes
There is really so much to see at the John Hardy Boutique, only a small fraction of which is shown in this post. It is almost like visiting jewelry museum.
Legends Macan Tassle Pendent with Amber Beads
Each friendly and informed associate can answer any question you have and is there to ensure that you choose a piece of jewelry that speaks to you. Why not plan to visit John Hardy today?
John Hardy Boutique is Located at 118 Price Street in SoHo, NYC. For other locations and more information on the Collections, please visit This Link!
If you are like me, you have a ton of jewelry, but not enough jewelry storage for the pieces that you like to wear every day. Here is a great solution: the Landmark Ring Holder and jewelry dish. These beautiful ceramic dishes designed to look like your favorite iconic structures are space saving enough to fit on your bedside table or dresser top, but big enough to hold your bling!
Available Designs include Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, and the Empire State Building. These ring holders are on sale now for just $16.95 (a 32% savings over the regular price of $24.95) and can be purchased right now by visiting This Link!
Skull jewelry is so on trend right now (and, well, always), so this Skull Bead Bracelet is a fashion accessory that you really don’t want to be to without.
Skull Bracelet Features:
Elastic Bracelet with Skull Bead Design
Colors: Black, green, orange, purple and yellow – Collect them all!
Material: Plastic
Size: 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ x 1/2″
Buy one or more of these colorful bracelets now at 20% off regular price, which comes to $7.96 each, by clicking This Link!
Italian jewelry brand Iosselliani celebrated the launch of its Holiday 2013 Capsule Collection, which is exclusive to its New York Flagship Boutique, with a fun and festive reception and showcase this past Friday evening. Designers Paolo Giacomelli and Roberta Paolucci, the power duo behind the brand, were on hand at the event to mingle and answer questions about their uniquely gorgeous designs.
But First, let’s talk about the 800 Pound Gorilla in the room.
This ceiling-high Giant White Gorilla (Associates in the store told us it was an art piece purchased in Chicago) sits at the rear of the sleek, intimate showroom and adds a cool, fun vibe to the store. It has nothing to do with the jewelry, but we could not resist photographing it for this story. Because, Giant White Gorilla.
Giacomelli and Paolucci founded Iosselliani as a way to express their creative vision while grounding it in the aesthetic of traditional Italian jewelry. In 2005 Iosselliani opened their first flagship store R-01-IOS, which is located in Rome and the second shop, T-02-IOS, opened up in the Harajuku district in Tokyo on October 24th, 2008. The NYC Boutique, located on West 29th Street adjacent to the Fashion Accessory Wholesale District, is the first Flagship store in the US.
We really loved this collection’s bold emphasis on Deco-inspired Designs.
Also, do you love Skulls? We sure do. There are several gorgeous Cameo Skull pieces in the collection, as seen below.
Cameo Skull and Crystal Necklace
Cameo Skull Crystal Earrings
Cameo Skull and Crystal Cuff Bracelet
The series of Skull post earrings above feature gold skulls paired with various colored crystal baguettes. So gorgeous.
Iosselliani‘s seasonal but enduring fashion accessories are carefully handcrafted by professional manufacturers, blending various materials with a sparkle of Swarovski crystals and semi precious stones. The signature pieces of reworked parts of vintage jewelry turn out to bold necklaces and bracelets along with sets of stack rings.
An Associates was kind enough to model a few signature designs for our camera, such as this multi-strand chain and crystal bracelet.
These stack rings, which are sold as a set, are another iconic Iosselliani design.
Green Bridal Collar Necklace
Christmas Bauble Window Display
Prices on the Iosselliani2013 Holiday Jewelry Collection start at under $200 and go up to $1,000 plus, so there’s something for every budget. All of the store employees are super nice and can help you choose the perfect holiday gift for your jewelry loving friends and family.
IOSSELLIANI NY-04-IOS is located at 4 West 29th Street (Between Broadway and 5th Avenues) New York, NY 10001, Store Hours are Monday – Saturday 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 Noon – 6:00 PM. Visit them online at This Link.
