Tales from the Appraiser’s Desk: Artists Jewelry

Not too long ago a piece came across my desk with a story that I just had to share. The piece belonged to a client, with whom I have been working for years cataloging her collection for estate purposes, but it was not like her other jewelry. It was a piece of artist jewelry, eye-catching and well made, but clearly more avant guard in aesthetics than her other jewelry.

She presented to me an over size cuff bracelet composed of copper and brass, purchased at a flea market. With a twinkle in her eye she told the story of a Summer day in New York, falling in love with the bracelet and how at the end of a long day of back and forth dealing the bracelet went home with her for $10. The bracelet was signed and she asked me to do some research on her purchase, for fun if nothing else. The bracelet was signed by Art Smith.

Art Smith (1917-1982) was an American modern jewelry designer. He worked in New York, the village to be specific, and was influenced by Alexander Calder as you can see by Mr. Smith’s Galaxy Necklace circa 1962. The Brooklyn Museum just closed a retrospective of his work, but the catalog, “From the Village to Vogue: The Modern Jewelry of Art Smith” is still available.

My client fully enjoys her bracelet, but it is nice to know she could have a sizable return on her investment. Happy hunting!