Earrings

Miye Matsukata, Earrings, ca. 1973, 18k and 24k gold with diamonds, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Harold Rubenstein in memory of his wife Irma Sims Rubenstein, 1991.106A-B
Miye Matsukata, Earrings, ca. 1973, 18k and 24k gold with diamonds, 27858 in. (5.12.21.6 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Harold Rubenstein in memory of his wife Irma Sims Rubenstein, 1991.106A-B

Artwork Details

Title
Earrings
Date
ca. 1973
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
27858 in. (5.12.21.6 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Harold Rubenstein in memory of his wife Irma Sims Rubenstein
Mediums
Mediums Description
18k and 24k gold with diamonds
Classifications
Object Number
1991.106A-B

Artwork Description

Earrings is one of six jewelry pieces Miyé Matsukata made for a commission. The artist was asked to design pieces around loose diamonds that the client supplied. Because 24k gold is too soft to work in alone, Matsukata laminated the earrings with 18k gold, making then strong enough to hold the stones and durable enough to wear. She wanted the works to be well-balanced, comfortable to wear, and pleasing to the eye.

Works by this artist (3 items)

Chet La More, Ku Kluxers, 1939, color lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from D.C. Public Library

, 1967.72.149
Ku Kluxers
Date1939
color lithograph
Not on view
Chet La More, Old Dock, n.d., color lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from D.C. Public Library, 1967.72.148
Old Dock
Daten.d.
color lithograph
Not on view
Chet La More, Construction, ca. 1935-1939, color woodcut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Audrey McMahon, 1968.98.32
Construction
Dateca. 1935-1939
color woodcut on paper
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Henry Moore, Britain, from the United Nations Series, 1944, ink, watercolor, pencil, crayon, and gouache on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.219
Britain, from the United Nations Series
Date1944
ink, watercolor, pencil, crayon, and gouache on paper
Not on view
Henry Speller, Train, ca. 1980, crayon and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.198
Train
Dateca. 1980
crayon and pencil on paper
Not on view
Inez Nathaniel-Walker, Woman with Bowl of Flowers, 1974, felt-tipped pen and ink, ballpoint pen and ink, crayon, and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.190
Woman with Bowl of Flowers
Date1974
felt-tipped pen and ink, ballpoint pen and ink, crayon, and pencil on paper
Not on view
Messenger Boy
Artist
Dateca. 1933-1943
charcoal, crayon and pencil on paper
Not on view