Maker & Muse: Women and Early Twentieth Century Art Jewelry

Featuring exquisite works by renowned artists such as Louis Comfort Tiffany, Charlotte Newman, and René Lalique, Maker & Muse: Women and Early Twentieth Century Art Jewelry celebrates the impact of women on art jewelry across five regions: Great Britain, France, Austro-Germany, New York, and Chicago. These regions saw the emergence of bold, experimental artists who pushed the boundaries of traditional jewelry design.

Art jewelry developed as a reaction to the conformity of mass produced goods throughout the Industrial Revolution. Each of the designers represented in Maker & Muse, though inspired by their own individual cultures and surroundings, all shared similar aesthetic ideals. They sought to produce innovative jewelry with semiprecious stones, enamelwork, and dramatic forms. Women influenced art jewelry as muses to male designers, and for the first time, as designers themselves. The pieces in this exhibition provide a glimpse into the social, political, and economic contexts in which they were created.

Drawn from the collection of Richard H. Driehaus, as well as other prominent collections, Maker & Muse explores the fascinating connections between art jewelry, design, and women in the early 20th century.

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