Copied
Mary Lee Hu, Choker (#38), 1978, fine and sterling silver, 18k and 24k gold, and lacquered copper, 9 5⁄8 x 6 1⁄2 x 7⁄8 in. (24.5 x 16.6 x 2.3 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Renwick Alliance, 1985.22
Copied
Artwork Details
- Title
- Choker (#38)
- Artist
- Date
- 1978
- Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 9 5⁄8 x 6 1⁄2 x 7⁄8 in. (24.5 x 16.6 x 2.3 cm.)
- Credit Line
- Gift of the James Renwick Alliance
- Mediums Description
- fine and sterling silver, 18k and 24k gold, and lacquered copper
- Classifications
- Subjects
- Dress — accessory — jewelry
- Object Number
- 1985.22
Artwork Description
Mary Lee Hu wove together silver, gold, and copper in Choker (#38) to form a massive yet delicate neckpiece. Hu expertly wove the metal by hand, using her finger as her primary tool. It is tedious work, and can take hours to complete only a few inches of woven metal; Hu, however, enjoys the slow, meditative process. She loves pattern, rhythm and symmetry, and is inspired by organic forms, including sea creatures and veins in leaves. The flowing, subtly asymmetrical forms in Choker (#38) evoke leaves or feathers, and seem to sprout from the core of the piece.
Exhibitions
November 13, 2015–March 6, 2022
Connections is the Renwick Gallery’s dynamic ongoing permanent collection presentation, featuring more than 80 objects celebrating craft as a discipline and an approach to living differently in the modern world.