Comments on: Historical Jewelry

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 14:30:21 +0000

In reply to Kelly.

Kelly, yes, I saw the da Vinci – in fact, I had my Mom take a picture of me next to it! A very exciting moment. Thanks so much for your lovely comment! 🙂

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 13:54:02 +0000

Thanks so much Rena – I live in the DC area and used to LIVE at the NGA when I first moved here as a starving student. I haven’t been there since I started making jewelry in 2012 – so now I have a great excuse for another visit!

Did you happen to see the da Vinci, called the Ginevra de’ Benci when you were there? I’ve seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and, IMHO, the de’ Benci is a MUCH better piece (though they both lack jewelry)

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:18:07 +0000

In reply to Michele C.. Michele C, If you make your version of the "Shakespeare in Love" necklace, I'd love to see it!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:11:34 +0000

In reply to Judy Pagnusat. Judy, thank you so much for mentioning this show - it sounds like something my Mom and I would enjoy watching! (And the jewelry would be icing on the cake!)

By: Judy Pagnusat

Judy Pagnusat — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:27:48 +0000

What great fun Rena! I have never thought about looking at paintings for inspiration. I have been watching a TV series called “Reign” which is about Mary Queen Of Scots when she lived in France. I don’t think the clothing and jewelry are actually authentic the the period but I am loving the jewelry so much,

By: Michele C.

Michele C. — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:13:42 +0000

In reply to Nancy.

Dear Nancy,

My friend snagged a strand of African glass beads last Sunday at a women’s club yard sale. They are more of a cylinder shape but are the colors you described above. She found then at the bottom of a box of unrelated junk and grabbed them for a dollar. Someone just didn’t know the value of her stuff!!

If you have the time & patience to sort through a lot of junk, community yard/tag sales can be a good source of jewelry people just want to unload and not carry home!

By: Michele C.

Michele C. — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:04:45 +0000

I’m crazy about Gwyneth Paltrow’s “Shakespeare in Love” necklace! It is a choker, which I can’t tolerate, but I adore the design and use of gold chain with alternating drop pearls. Googling it I found it is part of a Renaissance costume collection.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 15:59:46 +0000

In reply to Diana Stiles. Diana, thank you for your lovely comment! What a creative idea to display your jewelry that way.

By: Diana Stiles

Diana Stiles — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 15:54:43 +0000

Hi Rena, Thanks, great article. For a couple of years now I have used printed copies of paintings of women to display my work at shows and in retail shops, mostly faces that sport my handmade copper and brass earrings. Customers go wild for them; and sales are increased! Just an additional note from my perspective as the mother of a child of color and as someone vested in diversity on many levels, I try to include as many models’s portraits as possible of women of color as my jewelry models, including Latinas, African Americans, and Indigenous women.

Best regards, Diana Stiles

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:55:24 +0000

Thank you so much, Marsha and Rita! 🙂 I so agree about art in our DNA, and DC having a wonderful collection of museums – I could spend a year there if possible! 🙂

By: Rita

Rita — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:51:18 +0000

Hi Rena! What a lovely idea! DC has the best museums. Inspiration abounds in these places. You have some beautiful photos here and the close ups follow your well written article perfectly. Thank you for sharing your trip with us.

By: Marsha Napier

Marsha Napier — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:05:07 +0000

Love this article. I find I’m drawn to historical jewelry as well….gotta be in our genes.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 11:09:34 +0000

In reply to Caroline Westcott. Thank you, Caroline! :)

By: Caroline Westcott

Caroline Westcott — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 11:06:53 +0000

Fascinating! A new source of inspiration. Thanks Rena.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Thu, 18 May 2017 19:45:33 +0000

In reply to Barbara jacquin. Barbara, thanks so much for your lovely comment!

By: Barbara jacquin

Barbara jacquin — Thu, 18 May 2017 19:37:45 +0000

I am Intrigued by the square pearl in the pendant worn by Lucretia and wonder how it was formed and where it could have come from. And the charm bracelet on Mme Moitessier is almost exactly like the one I never wear because it’s heavy and also ostentatious. Maybe I should get it out again unless somebody has another idea, like redesigning. Lots of 18 kt gold there!

Rena, this article is an absolute feast for the eyes. Thanks.

By: Lena

Lena — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 15:27:42 +0000

Thank you for this great article, Rena. In Archaeological Museum here, in Skopje, I saw many beautiful pieces of golden jewelry from the 3rd and 4th century. I was really surprised by their beauty and complexity.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 22:39:18 +0000

In reply to Becky Clemmons. Thanks, Becky!

By: Becky Clemmons

Becky Clemmons — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 21:53:58 +0000

Absolutely wonderful article Rena! Thank you.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 11:02:49 +0000

In reply to Nancy. Nancy, good one! I love Girl with a Pearl Earring too! Thanks for your lovely comment. :)

By: Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 10:44:02 +0000

Don’t forget the Girl with a Pearl Earring! My jewelry business, New Classics Jewelry, began reflects my love for historical jewelry. Most styles just keep circling back again! Your wonderful pictures are excellent examples.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 12:25:55 +0000

Looking for treasure in historical portraits would be an exciting pastime. I would love to travel the world visiting art museums. Such inspiration for jewelry designers! Thank you for sharing.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 07:24:21 +0000

In reply to Michele Counihan.

Hi Michele, it looks like the necklace is made with pearl links alternated with small, ornamental metal links. You could possibly use wire to make your own version of the small metal links. For the pearl links, you could either use flat pearl cabochons that you set into bezel links – or use pearl beads and make a wire loop at each end of the bead. I’d love to see your finished necklace if you’d like to share it here! 🙂

By: Michele Counihan

Michele Counihan — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:38:35 +0000

Ever since I saw Shakespeare in Love, I’ve been obsessed with the pearl drop necklace Gwyneth Paltrow wears in the move. I want to make one for myself. I’m not sure what type of chain I need and teardrop pearls. Do you have any suggestions?

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 00:35:35 +0000

In reply to k.

Thank you so much, K! Good idea. When I get to an art museum again I’ll see what I can come up with. And yes, definitely – I would be thrilled with museum jewelry observations from our JMJ community! It’s a fascinating topic for me too.

By: k

Wed, 07 Oct 2015 23:40:31 +0000

I look forward to all of your articles but this one is a treasure! Please, whenever you are able to visit a museum, photograph and comment on jewelry worn by the subjects in the paintings. This is all so delicious and inspiring. Or … possibly, would you be open to museum jewelry observations offered by some of your readers?

By: Julie White

Julie White — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 03:27:58 +0000

I got a great idea for a necklace from a Biblical movie! I keep my sketchbook handy for when I see or get an idea, otherwise, poof……the ideas can vanish and not be there when you need some inspiration even though you think you’ll remember them. Also, sometimes I’ll photograph my works in progress. That way, if the design or beads get discombobulated or rearranged, I can go back and see how it was originally laid out in the way that I first designed it and liked.

By: Cynthia Dawn

Cynthia Dawn — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 20:03:11 +0000

Thanks for posting this great article. I too am fascinated by jewelry of by gone days. I recently checked out a copy of the book “Creating Your Own Antique Jewelry” by Cris DuPouy. There are many examples of great pieces of jewelry, alongside a photograph of the painting they are featured in. Then, Cris teaches you, step by step, how to make a piece inspired by what is shown in a particular painting.

I am particularly fascinated with Empress Josephine & the paintings of Jacques Louis David….so I was able to make a bracelet, based on the one Josephine wore in the Jacques Louis David masterpiece “The Consecration of Emperor Napoleon and the Coronation of Empress Joséphine on December 2, 1804.

By: Luz Urena

Luz Urena — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 17:04:08 +0000

Wow! Thanks so much for sharing this with us Rena.. Now I want to run to the Metropolitan Museum here in New York… I love Victorian Jewelry. And yes the old is new again…. love, love , love it… thanks again…

By: ginger jenkins

ginger jenkins — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 03:21:22 +0000

Thanks for this great idea–I already do this as a matter of course, be it jewelry, fashion or other art form ideas–but have gotten a little lazy lately. Now you’ve given me a little kick start and I’ll be back at it. One hint I got from a sewing professional is: look for color and design ideas in art forms that are unrelated to your working genre–for instance, she hit on a great color inspiration by seeing an ad for lawn chairs. I have a quilting book which shares principles for color combos which will easily translate to jewelry making. I love your website and timely hints. Thanks!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:52:20 +0000

When I watched the HBO series “The Tudors” I was enamored and inspired by their costumes and their jewelry. I found loads of pictures from the show online as well as of the real Tudors just by “Googling” them. Like one of the commenters said, everything old does eventually become new again. I’m sure TV and period movies have a lot to do with trends.

By: Jackie Watson

Jackie Watson — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:51:23 +0000

Hi, Rena, Awesome article – love looking at historical jewelry! If you’re ever down here in Charleston, be sure to visit the Charleston Museum; they have a very large collection there!

Jackie Watson

By: Janis (FabuGlass)

Janis (FabuGlass) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 00:31:50 +0000

Art Deco, my favourite era, wow would love link to commentary re revival of this style. I have a fabulous book, out of print now (1985) but can be found at some booksellers: Art Deco Jewellery – Sylvie Raulet This is a big coffee table book…history of Art Deco Jewellery and famous designers, beautiful pictures of their elegant pieces.

By: Diane (Dewdrop Designs)

Diane (Dewdrop Designs) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 22:10:29 +0000

I love pouring over books on jewelry history. It really is amazing to see the styles over the ages and has inspired me as well. I find it interesting that I recently read that art deco is going to be “in” this year and I have been having a fascination with it the past few months. I’ve always loved art deco and as a child, my Grandmother had some fabulous pieces that she would let me wear when I would visit her. During every visit, there was at least one session of looking through her jewelry, many that had been pieces past down through the generations, so it is natural for me to have a love of jewelry past.

By: Liz

Liz — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 08:26:00 +0000

This gives me such a new perspective in looking at art. Since I don’t have a museum nearby with these type of paintings, I plan to head to my library & pick up a few art history books. Thanks for another source of inspiration.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:20:29 +0000

Thanks, all, for your lovely feedback! I love history (and art history) – and it was so fascinating to find some jewelry history in these paintings. I’ll definitely be looking for more jewelry depicted in other art forms when I go to museums in the future!

By: Janis

Janis — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:30:45 +0000

This is a great article Rena, thank you. I love historical jewellery and have a particular interest in ancient jewellery, Egyptian in particular, which has a strong link to my favourite modern era, Art Deco. Oh to have the money to work the precious metals and gemstones of those times! Never-the-less, the elegance, style and design principles provide much to learn from.

By: Paddie Reed

Paddie Reed — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 07:04:31 +0000

A great article Rena; however I must point out that in the pre-Victorian era wearing black was merely a sign that someone was wealthy (as was purple because deep dyes were very expensive). Black for mourning and white for brides were Victorian introductions.
Some of the jewellery really is an inspiration though. Thank you for sharing this.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 19:04:11 +0000

For several years I made jewelry for sale through the gift shop at our art museum. It not only benefited the museum, but supported the shop as well. (I kept my name off the info cards I printed for each piece*.) Everything I took in sold quickly – people wanted a memento of their visit; since my jewelry designs were drawn from the collection, it was a perfect match! NEVER forget the many non-profit institutions that gave you so much in your formative years. I still love making those designs and they still sell at my shows.

* The museum provided me with inspiration for many years – I started classes there at age 5 – so the pleasure was mine.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 03:44:07 +0000

Hi Rena. Exquisite pieces of fashioned jewelry of eras gone by. What a terrific way to excite the creativity in all of us.

On another note, has anyone ever heard of African glass beads. Resembles sea glass, but mine are round, 1 1/2″ rectangle, brown & green teal color.

Thanks for any help.

By: carole

carole — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 14:43:19 +0000

I will be traveling soon in Spain and Italy. I look forward to the museums even more…what a wonderful idea!!

By: Kristine

Kristine — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:50:01 +0000

What a treat this is: both the gorgeous jewelry designs and the masterfully rendered art. Now I can’t wait to go to the Art Institute in Chicago – which I WILL do this year.

By: zoraida

zoraida — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:44:58 +0000

Visiting museums for jewelry inspiration is a great idea. I often visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art here in NY and study the ancient jewelry on exhibit from various cultures.

I’m always inspired (even get the catalog in the mail). It’s fascinating that many designs look so contemporary. Good design is always good, not a passing fad.

There is so much to learn by looking at timeless art from Tiffany stained glass to the Hall of Gems (at the Museum of Natural History, NY). It’s something all aspiring artists of all kinds need to do.

By: Joan Williams

Joan Williams — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:05:42 +0000

What a great idea, Rena – it never occurred to me to look at the jewelry depicted in classic works of art! I was struck by how contemporary every one of those pieces seemed ( I guess everything old really is new again!) and also the artists’ skill in capturing the luster of the pearl and gold jewelry.

The next time I go to the Art Institute in Chicago I’ll definitely be paying more attention to the jewelry!