Richard Mawdsley
Feast Bracelet1974
silver, jade, and pearls
3 3/4 x 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 in.
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Renwick Collectors Alliance in honor of Lloyd E. Herman, Director, Emeritus, Renwick Gallery
In its exacting craftsmanship, Richard Mawdsley's sterling silver bracelet brings to mind masterworks by Renaissance goldsmiths, the opulence of seventeenth-century Dutch still lifes, and photographically realistic paintings of the 1970s. The bracelet depicts a sumptuous banquet in exquisite detail. In a pileup of miniature forms we see various fruits and vegetables, together with serving cup, compote, pie dish, plate, cloths, table scarves, and a wine bottle in a wine cooler. Completing the array of items and forms are jade spheres used as lamp globes flanking the table.
