"Faberge's Twins" Brooch

Designer William Harper American
1993
Not on view
William Harper views this work as commingling the styles of two distinct cultural groups—by referencing on the one hand Fabergé eggs, exquisite but "sterile" objects made in the waning years of a decadent Russian court, and on the other, dazzling gold objects made by the Ashanti peoples of West Africa, which he sees as having a "refined roughness" that exudes genuine passion. In Harper’s conceit, suggesting male and female parts, the egg is fertilized by the gold work to produce fraternal twins.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Faberge's Twins" Brooch
  • Designer: William Harper (American, born Bucyrus, Ohio, 1944)
  • Date: 1993
  • Medium: 14K and 24K gold, gold cloisonné enamel on fine silver, sterling silver, tourmalines, and pearl
  • Dimensions: 6 1/8 × 3 1/4 × 5/8 in. (15.6 × 8.3 cm)
  • Classification: Jewelry
  • Credit Line: Gift of Donna Schneier, 2007
  • Object Number: 2007.384.21
  • Rights and Reproduction: © William Harper
  • Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

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