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We took a deep dive into over 200 pieces of extraordinary antique jewelry – Vanessa gives you the lowdown on the trip downtown!
At Studio D, we pride ourselves on being unfailingly curious, always looking for new styles and trends, continuously upping our game and learning new things about gemstones and jewelry. One day Morgan came busting into the office “GUYS check this out, it's so cool,” showing us that The Driehaus Museum was hosting “Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective.” We were all amazed by the Opal Necklace they chose as the cover photo, and immediately thought we had to go on a field trip to experience this in person. I wrote a proposal for management to review, detailing why I felt this was worthwhile for the store overall – and it was approved! It was time for the planning to begin...
I connected with the museum’s private tour coordinator, Valerie, and after a bit of back and forth, we all settled on September 4th as the date of our tour. After confirming the date, we determined the best train for all of us to take downtown together and chose a spot for lunch. Everyone on the team had the itinerary and we were all excited!
On that Wednesday morning, we all met on the train and headed into the city, ready to be astonished by the beautiful historical collection. Valerie and Mary were waiting outside to greet us when we arrived.
Once inside, we embarked on our private tour with Mary and Abby. The museum was once known as the Nickerson Mansion, after the original owners of what was built as a private residence in the 1800s – Samuel and Matilda Nickerson. The collection we viewed hosted an assortment of pieces, including a custom silver punch bowl by Robert Jarvie, which was crafted in 1907 for the Cliff Dwellers, a private Chicago art club. The fun part about the piece is the oxidation of the silver – you could still see fingerprints from previous members! The bowl was managed with gloves and a great deal of precision and care to avoid smudging away the past.
Our guides showed us numerous pieces that are owned to this day by prestigious Chicago families, many being Art Nouveau in style, such as a yellow gold natural pearl floral necklace, a yellow gold diamond and blue enamel angel’s trumpet hair broach, a carved opalescent glass Daliah with incrusted diamond stems, and a natural pearl drop that can be a pendant and convert into a brooch. We also saw a few Art Deco style pieces including a natural ruby and diamond bracelet, and a diamond and onyx bracelet.
We also learned about an intensive jewelry making technique called “Plique-à-jour” which is French for “letting in daylight.” The technique involves creating complex metal frameworks which are then filled with transparent enamel. The frameworks are left backless, allowing light to pass, creating beautiful radiant pieces resembling stained glass. You can see a few pictures in this post.
We set out on this field trip with eager anticipation for our love of all jewelry and came back with inspiration and motivation for new and fun pieces. Stop by Studio D next time you’re on the Woodstock Square; we’ll be happy to talk with you about everything we learned and saw!
About the Driehaus Museum
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum showcases art, architecture and design from the late 19th and early 20th century in a meticulously restored Gilded Age home. Our mission is guided by a commitment to making decorative and fine art more accessible, drawing connections between historic art and contemporary art to illuminate our cultural heritage, while preserving the legacy of Richard H. Driehaus. We strive to become a self-sustaining organization with a distinctive reputation for artistic excellence in Chicago and around the world.
Photo Credit: Michael Tropea, Winged Scarab Brooch and Chain, Lucien Gautrait (brooch), Léon Gariod (chain), 1899-1900.
Vanessa Garcia is Studio D’s Inventory Assistant, keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes with her organizational skills and precise mind for math.
At Studio D, we pride ourselves on being unfailingly curious, always looking for new styles and trends, continuously upping our game and learning new things about gemstones and jewelry. One day Morgan came busting into the office “GUYS check this out, it's so cool,” showing us that The Driehaus Museum was hosting “Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective.” We were all amazed by the Opal Necklace they chose as the cover photo, and immediately thought we had to go on a field trip to experience this in person. I wrote a proposal for management to review, detailing why I felt this was worthwhile for the store overall – and it was approved! It was time for the planning to begin...
I connected with the museum’s private tour coordinator, Valerie, and after a bit of back and forth, we all settled on September 4th as the date of our tour. After confirming the date, we determined the best train for all of us to take downtown together and chose a spot for lunch. Everyone on the team had the itinerary and we were all excited!
On that Wednesday morning, we all met on the train and headed into the city, ready to be astonished by the beautiful historical collection. Valerie and Mary were waiting outside to greet us when we arrived.
Once inside, we embarked on our private tour with Mary and Abby. The museum was once known as the Nickerson Mansion, after the original owners of what was built as a private residence in the 1800s – Samuel and Matilda Nickerson. The collection we viewed hosted an assortment of pieces, including a custom silver punch bowl by Robert Jarvie, which was crafted in 1907 for the Cliff Dwellers, a private Chicago art club. The fun part about the piece is the oxidation of the silver – you could still see fingerprints from previous members! The bowl was managed with gloves and a great deal of precision and care to avoid smudging away the past.
Our guides showed us numerous pieces that are owned to this day by prestigious Chicago families, many being Art Nouveau in style, such as a yellow gold natural pearl floral necklace, a yellow gold diamond and blue enamel angel’s trumpet hair broach, a carved opalescent glass Daliah with incrusted diamond stems, and a natural pearl drop that can be a pendant and convert into a brooch. We also saw a few Art Deco style pieces including a natural ruby and diamond bracelet, and a diamond and onyx bracelet.
We also learned about an intensive jewelry making technique called “Plique-à-jour” which is French for “letting in daylight.” The technique involves creating complex metal frameworks which are then filled with transparent enamel. The frameworks are left backless, allowing light to pass, creating beautiful radiant pieces resembling stained glass. You can see a few pictures in this post.
We set out on this field trip with eager anticipation for our love of all jewelry and came back with inspiration and motivation for new and fun pieces. Stop by Studio D next time you’re on the Woodstock Square; we’ll be happy to talk with you about everything we learned and saw!
About the Driehaus Museum
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum showcases art, architecture and design from the late 19th and early 20th century in a meticulously restored Gilded Age home. Our mission is guided by a commitment to making decorative and fine art more accessible, drawing connections between historic art and contemporary art to illuminate our cultural heritage, while preserving the legacy of Richard H. Driehaus. We strive to become a self-sustaining organization with a distinctive reputation for artistic excellence in Chicago and around the world.
Photo Credit: Michael Tropea, Winged Scarab Brooch and Chain, Lucien Gautrait (brooch), Léon Gariod (chain), 1899-1900.
Vanessa Garcia is Studio D’s Inventory Assistant, keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes with her organizational skills and precise mind for math.