Necklace
1995-1999 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Beads in jewellery go far back in time, long before the craft of metalworking. The very early beads often had symbolic or amuletic value, and in some instances they were used as currency. The desire for beads as personal adornment is universal to all cultures and continues through to this day in a contemporary approach.
Axel Russmeyer has a vast collection of antique and contemporary beads and pearls from which he selects his compositions of ‘beaded beads’. Only one type of bead is used for each sphere but variety comes with the selection of spheres to be threaded together. In this necklace subtle textures and shades of grey are explored. Evoking heirlooms, he has sometimes created boxes with Renaissance portraits to present his pieces.
Axel Russmeyer has a vast collection of antique and contemporary beads and pearls from which he selects his compositions of ‘beaded beads’. Only one type of bead is used for each sphere but variety comes with the selection of spheres to be threaded together. In this necklace subtle textures and shades of grey are explored. Evoking heirlooms, he has sometimes created boxes with Renaissance portraits to present his pieces.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wood core, antique and contemporary beads of glass and metal and freshwater pearls, strung and knotted on silk ribbon |
| Brief description | Necklace, 35 beaded spheres threaded on a long grey silk ribbon, by Axel Russmeyer, Germany, Hamburg 1995-1999 |
| Physical description | A sequence of 35 beaded spheres threaded on a long grey silk ribbon which is knotted between each sphere and is finished at each end with a silver disc on which is an enamelled runner. The spheres, each covered with a single type and shade of bead, are in different tones of grey. They are arranged according to size, with the largest at one end and the smallest at the other. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | (the enamelled running man is one of Russmeyer's logos) |
| Credit line | Given by the artist |
| Object history | According to the maker there is a sister necklace to this one, made a few years earlier. It is not identical but has the same dimensions and number of beads. Currently in a private collection in the USA. |
| Summary | Beads in jewellery go far back in time, long before the craft of metalworking. The very early beads often had symbolic or amuletic value, and in some instances they were used as currency. The desire for beads as personal adornment is universal to all cultures and continues through to this day in a contemporary approach. Axel Russmeyer has a vast collection of antique and contemporary beads and pearls from which he selects his compositions of ‘beaded beads’. Only one type of bead is used for each sphere but variety comes with the selection of spheres to be threaded together. In this necklace subtle textures and shades of grey are explored. Evoking heirlooms, he has sometimes created boxes with Renaissance portraits to present his pieces. |
| Bibliographic reference | New Directions in Jewellery, London 2005 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.29-2006 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 31, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
