Portable Treasuries: Silver Jewelry from the Nadler Collection - Part I

The Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, NY, is currently displaying approximately 150 pieces of silver tribal jewelry from the Daniel and Serga Nadler collection. The Nadler's are most generously offering this collection to the museum as a future gift, and this its inaugural showing. The exhibition, Portable Treasuries: Silver Jewelry from the Nadler Collection runs Feb. 16 through Sep. 26, 2010. For this exhibition, the museum has focused on three geographic areas from the Nadler Collection--Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and Northern Africa.

The jewelry demonstrates the discerning collector's care in selection. These items are handmade and stand as 3D sculptural works of art. One is immediately struck by how massive are many of the pieces. As you read the exhibition labels, you realize that the jewelry was a bank account--a 'portable treasury.' Nomadic peoples, those who have lived in remote or politically unstable areas had to rely on themselves. Jewelry became a savings account on hand for bad times.

When the pieces were worn, they quickly signaled the wearer's economic standing.  Items frequently were part of a dowry or were given as wedding presents. When divorced or widowed, the jewelry was often not worn again, but was the wife's possession.

This type of jewelry is unsigned and hard to date. It has also become scarce because much of it has been melted. So this gift to the museum is truly a treasure to be enjoyed by all. (D.H.)

Visit the museum online at http://www.madmuseum.org/

A Current Tribal Jewelry Exhibition

Portable Treasuries: Silver Jewelry 
from the Nadler Collection
February 16 - September 26

Museum of Arts and Design
Susan Elson Galleries, 2nd floor 
2 Columbus Circle, Manhattan, NY

CIRCLE PINS COME FULL CIRCLE

Some jewelry is so basic and classic, it just keeps rebounding. Perhaps you've noticed the circle pin has returned as a popular jewelry form. So it was in the 1950s and early 1960s. Very popular. But did you know that many of those designs copied expensive brooches, often from the Art Deco and Edwardian periods?

We like to find those very good costume jewelry circle pins, which convincingly mimic their pricey predecessors. (D.H.)

~more information on this circle pin~

   

~more information on frame~ 

Brass Victorian Revival Family Photo Frame

As mentioned in the article below, Victorian Revival collectibles can be found in other decades outside the 1930s. Here is a charming example from the 1950s of a brass folding frame for photos.

In the 1950s-60s, beyond jewelry, revival design can be found in many items, such as the Chesterfield sofa, re-introduced at this time. Unusual period clothing, like Victorian military uniforms were sought after and copied. Rock groups popularized the look, and fashion icon Diana Vreeland did the same for military medals and badges. Nineteenth century typography became fresh and interesting. We are now so inundated with retro styling, it's hard to conceive how novel this revival was at the time.

This particular brass Victorian Revival frame is a miniature, folding to 1 1/2" high x 1 1/8" wide x 1/2" deep, and revealing the perfect fifties family inside. This is very dear! (D.H.)