Armor and Amor

Copied Sondra Sherman, Armor and Amor, 1995, constructed 18k gold, sterling silver, pink cubic zirconia, and chandelier crystals, A (chain and pendant): 25 1434 in. (64.12.0 cm) B (chain and pendant): 24 1212 in. (62.21.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Emily Sherby Levenson in memory of Sylvia Waldman Sacks, 2000.32A-D

Artwork Details

Title
Armor and Amor
Date
1995
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
A (chain and pendant): 25 1434 in. (64.12.0 cm) B (chain and pendant): 24 1212 in. (62.21.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Emily Sherby Levenson in memory of Sylvia Waldman Sacks
Mediums Description
constructed 18k gold, sterling silver, pink cubic zirconia, and chandelier crystals
Classifications
Object Number
2000.32A-D

Artwork Description

Sondra Sherman balances Mars and Venus, war and love, male and female in Armor and Amor, a matched set of "his-and-hers" necklaces. The female pendant is a curvaceous crystal covered with a lacy network of pink stones. The male counterpart is a phallic stone covered in a silver pinstriped casing, evoking a business suit. Although the feminine pendant appears vulnerable, it is defended by the points that Sherman has emphasized in setting the stone. A jester's collar on the masculine pendant is a humorous jab at male conceit, while the knots in the chain of the necklace signify the confusion we often experience in our relationships.