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Located in the historic Pike Place Market, Isadora’s has specialized in exquisite antique jewelry for 38 years. Our discriminating collection includes pieces from the early 1800’s through the 1950’s, without a reproduction to be found. Our precious pieces are sent to North American Gem Lab for independent appraisals. We invite you to call our toll free number for applicable discounts. On many of our pieces, we are able to offer between 10-25% off of appraisal value.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The "Arts & Crafts" Movement


The Arts & Crafts movement is interesting because it was both an artistic and a social movement. 

William Morris photographed by Fredrick Hollyer 1887
 Coinciding with, or rather reacting to the industrial revolution, the designer and socialist William Morris created a movement founded in the belief that industry dehumanized men and removed their creativity.  Revolting agains technology and the machine age, he advocated returning to a more holistic way of creation, by forming Medieval type guilds.

Arts & Crafts Agate Bracelet
In this philosophical spirit, he advocated hand made jewelry that was created by one designer from start to finish.  He emphasized the beauty of design over the wealth of the materials and chose to find beauty in imperfection. 

Arts & Crafts Moonstone Brooch
In this artistic spirit he drew inspiration from nature—creating pieces natural, abstract and sometimes symbolic.  Eschewing diamonds and rubies, he mounted lapis, turquoise, moonstone, carnelian, blister pearls, amethyst, peridot, malachite, opal and ivory in silver, copper and brass.  Enameling was also very popular.

Chrysoprase Scarab Silver Ring
Like most movements, it could not remain entirely uncommercial.  Liberty, a London shop, commissioned designers to create beautiful pieces in the Arts & Crafts style with an emphasis on design rather than material.  These pieces were made by machine and finished by hand.  All our stamped with the name Liberty, and though not as authentic to the original ethos of the Arts & Crafts movement, they are, still, fantastically beautiful works of art.


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