Also Very Interesting...Winter Reading 2013

Around this time of the year, in addition to my favorite online stuff, I also like to share my winter reading list and this marks my third installment. This year I'm revisiting two books I've read before and a few new ones...

The top title, Tone Vigeland, was loaned to me by my first metalsmithing teacher, Barbara Crocker, during a recent visit. Barbara loves her work and wanted to share this book with me. I'm thinking a lot about multiples and repetition in my work right now so it's a perfect book to absorb.

I read this the summer of 2012 and finally have a copy of my own. As I reread it over Christmas break, I realized how Sophie Calle has gotten under my skin and how her work has affected my own work and my process. She is a fascinating artist.

I read Blink years ago and feel it's time to read it again because I realize how important observation as a concept is in my work.

My quest for full sleeves and my recent collection "History Repeats" inspired this one... and since I love to read about the history of jewelry and costume it makes perfect sense to expand to the 

history of tattoos, another form of body adornment and self-expression.

This book is basically the catalogue of the jewelry collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, my favorite museum and the jewelry collection that brought me to tears.

 The last two titles are about the saints, a subject I became interested in while I was in Belgium. I visited so many cathedrals I couldn't help but become intrigued by the stories of these remarkable figures. 

Now let's see how all of this finds its way into my work...

See what I read last winter here.

See what I read the winter before that here.

Thanks for reading.

London! Victoria and Albert Museum

Breast Ornament in gold and diamonds, probably France, 1620-30s

So I was in London for a week...I meant to blog during that time but was so tired at the end of each day I could barely make dinner for myself. Thus, now begins a series of London posts to catch you up! I'll begin with my trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Seeing the collection of historical jewelry at the V & A was my number one priority while in London and it far exceeded my expectations. The collection is arranged chronologically but begins with an overview that explains why we wear jewelry with examples to support each reason. Then the timeline starts with gold from ancient times and ends with contemporary examples from the 2000's. The collection is astonishing and I was thrilled to see pieces I have studied over the years. I was most excited to see the above brooch which I use in my lecture when I talk about my influences.

Then upstairs you can see a beautiful examples of folk jewelry from Northern Europe, men's accessories, chatelaines, and other unique pieces. My favorite was this pair of hummingbird head earrings.

Dior

While at the museum I also visited the fashion collection which includes jewelry and accessories. Then I just wandered from room to room...

burka with footed trousers from about 1850

this model explains embroidery

mille-fleur tapestry, 1500's, Flanders, Belgium

lace from the 1600's

plaster casts from the late 15th century

More pictures on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.