Brooch
1984 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
As gold prices rose in the 1970s, jewellers began to look for alternatives to precious metals. Traditionally, they would have turned to base metals, such as bronze, iron and steel. Now, with the continuous search for the 'new', they sought out a wider repertoire of metals and also innovative techniques to create colour through patina. Silver was oxidised, aluminium anodised and painted.
In the space industry experiments with new materials led to the development of metals such as titanium and niobium. Their iridescent colours, achieved through heat or electrical currents, soon attracted the attention of jewellery designers.
Ivy Ross was trained at the Syracuse University, School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology, in New York. She has shown in her jewellery the versatility of non-precious materials, such as Colorcore, Formica and Titanium. The style is often graphic or achieves a textile quality, as with this brooch. Some pieces are even designed alongside an item of clothing.
In the space industry experiments with new materials led to the development of metals such as titanium and niobium. Their iridescent colours, achieved through heat or electrical currents, soon attracted the attention of jewellery designers.
Ivy Ross was trained at the Syracuse University, School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology, in New York. She has shown in her jewellery the versatility of non-precious materials, such as Colorcore, Formica and Titanium. The style is often graphic or achieves a textile quality, as with this brooch. Some pieces are even designed alongside an item of clothing.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Niobium and oxidised silver |
| Brief description | Niobium and oxidised silver, USA, 1984; designed and made by Ivy Ross |
| Physical description | Oxidised silver triangle set with rows of irregularly shaped and overlapping niobium pendants. Straight pin attached to back upper section of triangle. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Ron Longsdorf |
| Summary | As gold prices rose in the 1970s, jewellers began to look for alternatives to precious metals. Traditionally, they would have turned to base metals, such as bronze, iron and steel. Now, with the continuous search for the 'new', they sought out a wider repertoire of metals and also innovative techniques to create colour through patina. Silver was oxidised, aluminium anodised and painted. In the space industry experiments with new materials led to the development of metals such as titanium and niobium. Their iridescent colours, achieved through heat or electrical currents, soon attracted the attention of jewellery designers. Ivy Ross was trained at the Syracuse University, School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology, in New York. She has shown in her jewellery the versatility of non-precious materials, such as Colorcore, Formica and Titanium. The style is often graphic or achieves a textile quality, as with this brooch. Some pieces are even designed alongside an item of clothing. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.27-1991 |
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 | August 20, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
