Albert Paley, Pendant, 1973, gold, silver, copper, labradorite, moonstone, jade, glass, ivory, 22 x 8 1⁄2 x 1 1⁄2 in. (55.9 x 21.6 x 3.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Renwick Alliance and museum purchase through the Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program, 1991.135, © 1973, Albert Paley
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Artwork Details
- Title
- Pendant
- Artist
- Date
- 1973
- Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 22 x 8 1⁄2 x 1 1⁄2 in. (55.9 x 21.6 x 3.8 cm)
- Copyright
- © 1973, Albert Paley
- Credit Line
- Gift of the James Renwick Alliance and museum purchase through the Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program
- Mediums Description
- gold, silver, copper, labradorite, moonstone, jade, glass, ivory
- Classifications
- Object Number
- 1991.135
Artwork Description
Albert Paley sees the body as a stage for presenting his "wearable sculpture" and engineered this piece ergonomically so that it would move in direct response to the body. The large scale of Pendant dominates the female form and forces the wearer to become a dynamic element of the composition. In the context of the feminist movement of the 1970s, Pendant may be read as the transformation of a personal item into a public symbol of strength.