Art Work of the Day

Craft:Jewelry:Double Ring

1998

Artist: Harold O’Connor

Description: This ring is 18kt gold, and the stone is lapis lazuli.

Its measurements are 1 ½ “ x 2” x ¾” .

This item is located at the  Smithsonian American Art Museum/

A Gift from Mobelia Gallery.

1998.1.1

Fourth Floor. Luce Foundation Center.

It is a double ring which shows Harold O’Connor’s skills at creating beautiful settings which make the stones appear to be floating. The stone stands out and so do the 2 textured rings.

About the Artist

Harold O’Connor was born in Utica, New York, in 1941. He has been a practicing goldsmith for over 40 years. He did not study jewelry until his senior year in college.  The ability to transform his ideas into physical form through metal work, captivated him. He developed the idea of creating narrative jewelry reflecting cultural rites, myths, and life experiences through his jewelry. O’Connor trained during his days in Denmark and Germany. His work shows a contrast between smooth and textured surfaces. He likes to work with reticulation which is a “method of texturing metal by dusting it with minute particles of silver or gold and then heating the piece until the granules become part of the surface.”  He also uses Mokume which is a Japanese technique of laminating metals to create a surface for a reposse design.

pictures source:  Smithsoninan American Art Museum – Luce Foundation Center of American Art