Left: a pink and purple butterfly brooch in rubies, sapphires, amethysts, diamonds, silver and gold, 1987. © JAR, Paris.
The Jewels of JAR Paris is on dazzling show at the Gilbert Collection, Somerset House until January 26, 2003.
Celebrating 25 years of creating spectacular jewellery, 400 ornate and glittering pieces by artist in gems Joel Arthur Rosenthal (JAR) make up this major retrospective.
Four galleries of the Gilbert Collection have been transformed into near dark rooms, allowing visitors to view the never before seen in public objects with torches handed out at the entrance.
"Creating unique jewels using natural pearls, Kashmir sapphires, Oriental rubies, rare diamonds and precious stones, JAR has, in less than 25 years, made an indelible mark in the world of jewellery," explained Francois Curiel, Head of Christie's Jewellery Department Worldwide.
JAR's work combines craftsmanship and colour with a range of subjects inspired by the natural world. There is a bouquet of violets made from multicoloured sapphires and diamonds, trembling life-size lilacs and a pink and purple butterfly of rubies, sapphires, amethysts and diamonds.
Right: a parrot tulip brooch in rubies, diamonds, green garnets, green tourmalines, silver and gold, 1990. © JAR Paris.
"What will 25 years of ideas, of colours, of hundreds of thousands of hours of craftsmen at work, of pleasures and happiness, what will all this look like in four rooms?" remarked the artist.
"I do hope to tickle eyes, and to thank unboundedly our collectors with this exhibition."
With the help of a handful of highly skilled artisans, the American-born JAR produces between 70 and 80 pieces a year at his tiny, but frighteningly exclusive Paris shop.
At between $60,000 and $1 million a shout it may seem these items are part of a world solely for the fabulously wealthy, but they are stunning and well worth a look.
The exhibition is the first contemporary display to go on show at The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House, London's newest museum of decorative arts.
