"Faberge's Twins" Brooch

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

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

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

More Artwork

By William Harper

From the same time and place

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"Ghost Oracle" Pendant-brooch, William Harper American, Gold, enamel, silver, pearls — "Ghost Oracle" Pendant-brooch
William Harper
1978

"Magic Beads" Necklace, William Harper American, 14K gold, 24K gold, gold cloisonné on silver and gold — "Magic Beads" Necklace
William Harper
1984

"The Third Fake Maharajah" Brooch, William Harper American, 14K gold, 24K gold, gold cloisonné enamel on silver and gold, sterling silver, citrine, tourmaline, pearl, mirror, and plastic — "The Third Fake Maharajah" Brooch
William Harper
1986

"Homage to Cy Twombly and Joseph Cornell" Brooch in book, William Harper American, Brooch: 14K gold, 18K gold, 24K gold, gold cloisonné enamel on gold and silver, sterling silver, tourmaline, coral, agate, Mexican opal, and pearl<br/>Book: Leather and mixed media — "Homage to Cy Twombly and Joseph Cornell" Brooch in book
William Harper
1994

Glass Gardens Cask II; Tomb Jewel II, William Harper American, Wood, leather, glass, plastic, shell, specimen butterfly, mixed media metals, cord, gold — Glass Gardens Cask II; Tomb Jewel II
William Harper
1999

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