In the introduction she wrote for the catalog, Toni Greenbaum calls this “a landmark event, as it is the first exhibition and sale organized by an American auction house to be dedicated solely to studio jewelry on an international scale.” The auction will be held at Rago Auctions, in New Jersey. AJF checked in with the auction’s curator to learn a little more.
Please describe some of the pieces that will be on the block.
Mark McDonald: All of the jewelry is studio, except for two pieces. We have a rare, iconic Fibula brooch by Phillip Fike, an American jeweler and metalsmithing professor who was very influential. We have a giant brooch by the esteemed American sculptor, Albert Paley, who studied with Fike. We have a rare pendant/locket in gold and silver by Christian Schmidt, and a silver and gold “spider” pin by John Prip. We have six amazing pieces by Lisa Gralnick, in acrylic and gold; two beautiful recent brooches by Eleanor Moty; and two early pieces by Arline Fisch, who studied with Earl Pardon; plus several great examples of Pardon’s work spanning the 50s to the 80s.
Why do you feel the time has come for an auction like this one?
Mark McDonald: Usually this work is sold within the context of a fine jewelry auction and is often overshadowed by the glitz (and the prices) of traditional jewelry with diamonds, gold, and platinum. Rarely has recent contemporary work been sold at auction. By putting a large group together that shows the continuum of the studio movement for 100 years, we hope to develop a forum for satisfying both buyers and sellers.
What kinds of things are you doing to make this appeal to a broader audience?
Mark McDonald: I hope to introduce vintage buyers to contemporary work and vice versa. A number of my clients/collectors have begun as mid-century enthusiasts and moved into collecting recent work, pieces that reflect their tastes and focus. I hope to introduce mid-century jewelry to contemporary collectors who have only focused on recent new work … helping all participants to view this as one large, related movement.
Can you talk about the secondary market as it pertains to this auction?
Mark McDonald: The secondary market for mid-century jewelry is already somewhat developed, but that isn’t true for recent contemporary pieces. I hope to show good examples by good craftspeople with the aim of developing a reliable track record of what a newer piece can bring in the public market in a well curated, beautifully presented auction.
What are the possible outcomes of the auction?
Mark McDonald: I hope we can educate, illuminate, and, above all else, reach new buyers who can appreciate these things we love to wear.
One of my goals for this sale is that it, too, will establish a viable and healthy marketplace for studio jewelry from 1900 to the present, with the informative catalog serving as a guide and reference—a lasting document—like our original Structure and Ornament catalog.
Note: The auction catalog is available online.
