David Thomas (British, b. 1938), Bracelet, 1965, gold, pearls, garnets

Audio Description

British jeweler David Thomas made this bracelet in 1965. Thomas was born in 1938.The bracelet is made of gold, pearls and garnets.

This bracelet is made up of strips of yellow gold of varying lengths laid on one another, creating uneven edges. The strips bend outward toward the center of the bracelet, which is set with natural pearls of varying sizes and pastel shades interspersed with cabochon garnets.

Label Copy

British jeweler David Thomas made this bracelet in 1965. Thomas was born in 1938. The bracelet is made of gold, pearls and garnets.

One of the young British jewelers who was chosen to show his work in the International Exhibition of Modern Jewellery at Goldsmiths’ Hall in 1961, David Thomas gained an international reputation at an early age. Yet, he has never stopped working at the bench himself. Always keeping his workshop small, he reviews each piece that bears his name. While in the past he sold to a variety of retailers, he enjoys commissions best. These projects provide him contact with people and, for Thomas, jewelry is a highly personal art form. He always wants to create something that works for the individual.

Thomas likes the malleability and fineness of gold. Clay and plastics are too soft. Wood always breaks. To construct this bracelet, he used flattened gold strips set with multi-colored pastel and iridescent pearls and garnets. He revels in the colors semi-precious stones afford him and is always interested in texture.

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