Dear Friends and Collectors,
I am so excited to share news with you about our participation in the 2021 Winter Show, a benefit for East Side House Settlement. While it may not look exactly like it has in our previous 24 years as an exhibitor, I think in many ways this year will be better, and here’s why. Our new website was thoughtfully conceived to provide you with the depth of information we have always shared with you in person. There is lavish photography, detailed descriptions, publications and museums with similar or identical pieces, for every single item we have for sale. Moreover, the “curator’s notes” will help you impress your friends as you talk about your new acquisition.
We always hold back special pieces for the Winter Show, with subscribers to our email list getting a sneak peek before we release our newest finds, so if you’re a collector and aren’t already subscribed, become a Gallery Insider, I promise we’ll delight you.
Our offerings this year are strong in the artwork of Louis Comfort Tiffany. We’ve just acquired (19925) his “Geometric” plafonnier from an important Chicago-area collection, and I’m just in love with the range of brilliant sunset colors. This light will be just as fitting for an Arts and Crafts bungalow as for an apartment in the sky.
Speaking of a range of colors, I am fascinated by opals, and LCT’s (19862) necklace and bracelet have the finest Australian black opals to complement the design of Julia Munson. She and Tiffany began creating jewelry in 1902, in secret, away from the watchful eye of Tiffany & Co., and their daring color palettes recall the best of Tiffany’s artistic lighting and glass.
The great firm of Van Cleef & Arpels graces our jewelry collection this year, with (17570) vibrantly colored Burmese rubies alternating with diamonds in a pair of stylish earrings.
Sleek and compact, yet throwing a lot of light, the design of these earrings embody the sleek Parisian modishness popularized by Hubert de Givenchy’s costumes for Audrey Hepburn in films like Charade.
More than 60 years before Hepburn, Sarah Bernhardt was the theatrical star of Paris. Such was her fame that in a time when most female roles were still played by men, Hamlet (19238) was one of several male roles that Sarah Bernhardt performed to great acclaim. She is depicted here by Alphonse Mucha, who captured Hamlet’s aching indecision and Ophelia’s inevitable demise. It is a thoroughly Modern interpretation of a classical work, and is in the best condition we have ever seen in our 50 years specializing in Mucha lithographs. Like much of Art Nouveau, it stands at the intersection of fine and popular art, reflecting the changing times in which we still live, 120 years later.
And while you’re here, we invite you to browse the entire site with ease, thanks to a slew of fantastic new features. Use the “Discovery” tag to personalize your experience. You can shop a maker by name, or learn about jewelry terms using the glossary. If you’re dedicated to creating a “museum quality” collection, use the “Museum Acquisitions” tab to see which of our artworks are identical to ones in esteemed public collections.
As you browse through the collections, you can create a visual wish list by clicking on the heart icon, and get your questions answered in real time using the “ask a curator” chat function. Only interested in Art Nouveau jewelry? Just hover over the “Jewelry” tab and click on the Art Nouveau picture and start shopping, we’ve done the sorting for you!
We trust you will enjoy these offerings and look forward to helping you bring their beauty into your homes and into your lives. And of course, we hope to see you in-person next year at the Winter Show.
All the best,
Ben Macklowe
