Fresh Faces: 19 Jewels for a Happy New Year



Between last year’s Giacometti exhibit at the Guggenheim and my review of this book on figural jewelry here on All That Glitters, I’ve been keeping an eye out for faces. Not the way some people see faces in everyday objects but at market appointments and press previews and my many, many hunts for story ideas on Instagram.

I’ve put together an edit of my favorite discoveries, which range from droll and cheeky to eerie and foreboding. Many are evocative of ancient worlds or pay homage to the more recent conventions of the Art Nouveau style.

Moon faces are well-represented; I particularly love jewelry designer Llyn Strong’s Ladies in the Moonstone earrings, which feature not a “man” in the moon but the likenesses of two neoclassical maidens carved into moonstones in the 1940s.

There are also skulls, cameos traditional and newfangled, mixed media, and tiny sculptures chiseled from gleaming gold or silver—art jewelry that still feels elegantly cool and modern.

With jewels like these to turn my head (get it?), I feel more than ready to face whatever 2019 throws my way. How about you?

 

Rush Jewelry Design pendant
Harriet detachable pendant in 18k yellow gold, $3,680; Rush Jewelry Design
Sofia Zakia Medusa earring
West Medusa Relic earring in 14k yellow gold, $440; Sofia Zakia
Francesca Villa ring
Ring with tsavorite, amethysts, rock crystal, and a fragment of a vintage paper in 18k rose gold, price on request; Francesca Villa
Atelier Narce pendant
The Gold of Memories pendant with sapphires and diamonds in yellow gold, price on request; Atelier Narcé
Llyn Strong moonstone earrings
Ladies in the Moonstone earrings with sapphires, diamonds, and vintage hand-carved moonstones in 18k white gold and platinum, price on request; Llyn Strong
J W Anderson earrings
Moon Face earrings in blue and white etched varnish and lightweight brass, $381.50; JW Anderson at Net-a-Porter
Carolyn Morris Bach Face earrings Smithklein Gallery
Face earrings in carved cow bone, 18k gold, and silver, price on request; Carolyn Morris Bach at Smithklein Gallery
Fraser Hamilton mask pendant
Sapphire Mask Trevelyan necklace with fancy-cut sapphires in 9k yellow gold, £887 ($1,118); Fraser Hamilton Jewellery

 

Bibi van der Velden Faces ring
Big Faces ring in 18k yellow gold, €8,050 ($9,173); Bibi van der Velden

 

Alp Sagnak le jardeniere ring
Le Jardeniere ring with rubies and diamonds in 18k yellow gold and silver, $17,500; Alp Sagnak
Sicis skull necklace
Micromosaic skull necklace in 18k white gold, price on request; Sicis by Fuksas
Anthony Lent Triangleface pendant
Inverted Triangleface pendant with diamonds in 18k yellow gold and silver, $1,590; Anthony Lent
Cleopatras Bling astrology earrings
Astrology earrings in 18k gold plate, €160 ($182); Cleopatra’s Bling

 

Holly Dyment ring
Flamenco Blonde Girl enamel ring with rubies and white diamonds in 18k yellow gold, $4,940; Holly Dyment,
Alison Lou small pendant charm necklace
Small pendant charm necklace in enamel and 14k gold, $3,700; Alison Lou
Whitney Abrams owl face earrings
Owl earrings in hand-carved moonstone with hematite beaks and black onyx and gold eyes in 22k and 18k gold, $1,800; Whitney Abrams
Hannah Blount lady face ring
Medium Grey Lady Cameo ring in oxidized sterling silver, $150; Hannah Blount
Lalique Le Baiser ring
Le Baiser ring in clear crystal and gold vermeil, $345; Lalique 

 

Top: Moon pendants in bronze and sterling silver with gemstones, prices on request; Franny E Fine Jewelry (via: @liz_kantner)

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Amy Elliott

JCK Contributing Editor

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