George Washington (belt buckle)

Ken Cory made only a few pieces of jewelry during a transitional period from 1979 to 1986. Rather than being the focus of the piece, the garnet and mother-of-pearl are accents for the enamel and metalwork. This was his way of questioning the value of materials in conventional jewelry making. The artist once said that he believed traditions “should neither be worshipped nor rejected.” Cory’s lighthearted design contrasts with that of James E. Meyer, who also made a belt buckle with this title. Meyer’s piece shows his strong commitment to jewelry traditions, in both material and subject matter. Although the two artists approach their work differently, the pieces are equally impressive and reveal different facets of the same cultural heritage.