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Showing posts from July, 2011

Fabulous class and fabulous fraud

I was really impressed with the Van Cleef and Arpels exhibit that was staged at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York.  The Arpels touch was extraordinary.  The perfection of metal work and quality of color serves to remind us of what true jewelry talents can do.  The colored stones were extraordinary, and a knowledgeable dealer who was present said that these qualities can no longer be found.  As if the industry does not have enough stress. I found it interesting to find myself unimpressed with many pieces from a design point of view.  Our taste has really moved far since the 1920's and 1930's.  Some pieces were truly classic and timeless, but others were clearly done to suit specific customers.  There were actual ledgers displayed, showing for whom pieces were designed, the components, and the costs.  All of it was written out in careful script.  A wonderful look into the past, in days before any automation.  Great show. By contrast, just a few days later, I read a remark