CHJ Inspo

People We Love: Margaret De Patta, Jewelry Designer

People We Love: Margaret De Patta, Jewelry Designer
Margaret De Patta was an artistic visionary, creating some of the most innovative and futuristic jewelry in the mid century era. She was born as Margaret Strong in Tacoma, Washington in 1903, and grew up in San Diego, California. An artist her entire life, she heavily identified with the Constructivist, Bauhaus, and Democratic movements, and it was through a lifetime of design that her expertise in jewelry and construction flourished, until her untimely death in 1964. Continue reading

People We Love: Aldo Cipullo, Jewelry Designer for Cartier

People We Love: Aldo Cipullo, Jewelry Designer for Cartier

From his birth in 1936 in Naples, Italy, Aldo Cipullo was born into design. His father owned and operated a costume jewelry manufacturing business in Italy, and after graduating school Aldo began an apprenticeship there where he would learn the tricks and trade of the jewelry industry. In 1959, the young, ambitious Italian designer immigrated to America to pursue larger interests in jewelry and fashion design. 

It was not long before both Tiffany & Co. and David Webb hired him, but his biggest claim to fame was when he began working for Cartier in 1969. Not even a year into his employment there did he design his most famous piece, the Cartier Love Bracelet, and shortly after this piece, he created the “Juste Un Clou” collection, or the iconic Nail Collection. To add to his legacy, he is the only Cartier designer to date allowed to have his signature on his designs for the company.

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People We Love: Charles Loloma, Jewelry Designer

People We Love: Charles Loloma, Jewelry Designer
charles loloma
“I wish to create a relationship between the earth and myself. Sometimes we do not realize what we are kicking over. I want to make the soul come out.”

 

Charles Loloma was an artist’s artist- he was a master with pottery, painting, print making, and of course jewelry design. Even though originally dismissed as traditional Native American art by his fellow tribesmen, he is arguably one of the most influential jewelry designers in the Native American style, and helped bring American Indian style of jewelry into the mainstream during the mid-20th century.

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People We Love: John Edward Lautner, Architect

People We Love: John Edward Lautner, Architect
Keeping in theme with my love for architecture, this week’s blog post is in honor of John Edward Lautner (1911- 1994), architectural pioneer and major contributor to the Googie and Mid Century art movements of the 20th century. Both sleek, cool, movement and bold, angular shapes characterize his work. Many of his projects were residential and today can be considered landmarks. Continue reading

People We Love: Art Smith, Jewelry Designer

People We Love: Art Smith, Jewelry Designer

Arthur Smith, born in 1917 in Cuba, was the son of Jamaican immigrants. He moved to New York City when he was just three years old, and continued to live and work there until his death in 1982. From 1946 until 1979, he owned and operated his jewelry shop in Greenwich Village, where he was subject to racist and homophobic attacks due to the racial and political tension of the times. Nevertheless, many, including avant-garde dancers and jazz musicians, wore his art. His pieces are currently in the permanent collections at the Cooper Hewitt Museum, the Museum of  Continue reading

People We Love: Dan Flavin, Artist

People We Love: Dan Flavin, Artist
Carrie Hoffman Jewelry often takes inspiration from other artists, time periods, and antique designs. The vision of Dan Flavin is a perfect bridge between architectural thought-piece installations, and architectural, wearable, art considering his unique use of color, shape, and space. Dan Flavin was born of Irish decent in New York, on April 1, 1933. His twin brother, David, who suffered and died from polio in 1962, served as inspiration to one if his earliest series, Icons, which were box-like structures made out of various materials, then illuminated from the sides with different types of lighting. From here, his particular Continue reading

People We Love: Donald Judd, Sculptor and Designer

People We Love: Donald Judd, Sculptor and Designer
When it comes to finding inspiration for my jewelry, I find that much of my enthusiasm stems from my love of architecture and interior design. The CHJ Judd ring was essentially born from minimalism- an art movement focused on paired-down design principles; a movement which was possibly a reaction to the over- embellished abstract expressionism that came before it. Many artists experimented with minimalism, but only some mastered it. Donald Judd, a sculpture and furniture designer based out of New York, was one of these minimalist pioneers who helped paved the way for better design. Here we see the Corner Frame chair, next to our Judd ring (clearly named after my muse) which can be worn three ways!  Continue reading