American Arts and Crafts Grape Cluster Earrings

Description

The Museum’s Department of Drawings and Prints houses an album of original jewelry designs created about 1910 by Virginia V. Blakeney (America, 1878–1963). We have adapted a design drawing for a grape- cluster pin/pendant in this album for our striking earrings.

22K gold overlay, hand enameled, made with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and simulated glass pearls. 1 1/2''L. Pierced, with gold-filled ear wires.

Art History

Virginia V. Blakeney (America, 1878–1963), a lifelong resident of Dayton, Ohio, is known to have produced jewelry designs for large American jewelry houses as well as for important Dayton families. Her graceful and elegant adornments included necklaces, pendants, brooches, and rings of silver or gold, often enameled or enhanced with precious stones and pearls. Blakeney’s preliminary jewelry designs in this album, done in graphite with watercolor and gouache, clearly display the Arts & Crafts aesthetic and are themselves works of art.