The next time you find yourself complaining about the “way things are made nowadays”, refer to to this article from in Blouin Art Info. It’s a gentle reminder of the immense detail that used to go into hand-crafted jewelry. Check out this interesting collection of drawings, created during a time when everything was hand-painted, then fabricated by true artisans.
Sotheby’s in London is to put on show hundreds of vintage-jewelry drawings that have never been seen in public before.
The “Masters of Design” display will feature preparatory sketches before items were hand-made by Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and famous “maisons.” The exquisite artwork charts almost a century of design, up to the 1960s. The auction house says the sketches are works of art in themselves and come from a large private collection of 3,000 jewelry documents.
(Remember, we create custom design jewelry using 3 generations of jewelry craftsmanship so we get the importance of detail and artistry!)
Designs for Cartier brooch. Sotheby’s
Designs for brooches attributed to Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1935 Sotheby’s
Design for Cartier Collier de Chien, 1900s Sotheby’s