Necklace+(Alexander+Calder)

Date: n.d.
 * [[image:http://ids.si.edu/ids/deliveryService?id=http://americanart.si.edu/images/1968/1968.7.2_1a.jpg&max=460 width="355" height="277" link="@http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=3650"]] || Title: **Necklace**

Artist: **Alexander Calder** Born: Lawnton, Pennsylvania 1898 Died: New York, New York 1976

Medium: brass Dimensions: 2 1/2 x 11 1/8 x 12 7/8 in. (6.4 x 28.3 x 32.7 cm.) oval Smithsonian American Art Museum Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Calder

Accession: 1968.7.2 || As a child, Alexander Calder made his first piece of jewelry for his sister's dolls. He continued to experiment with jewelry throughout his career, even after gaining international recognition for his whimsical mobiles and stabiles. Calder made most of his jewelry for his family and close friends and often gave his pieces as gifts. His wife, Louisa, was the main recipient of his creations. Necklace resembles a piece he made for her in 1940. All of Calder's jewelry was constructed from multiple pieces of hammered brass or iron, and he used the spiral design repeatedly. Calder refused to sell his jewelry commercially, for he wanted each wearer to know that his or her piece was made by the artist's hands alone.
 * Luce Center Label: **


 * Resources: **

Artist Biography SAAM Collections Page Images of Calder's Jewery Alexander Calder Website
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