Vintage and Contemporary American Costume Jewelry
Presented by Maria Teresa Cannizzaro
You are cordially invited to attend a history and viewing of American costume jewelry, created in the Italian immigrant tradition. Vintage and contemporary Italian jewelry will be presented during the evening and will be available for purchase.
Many Italian immigrants sought jobs in the burgeoning business of costume jewelry, in the industrialized American cities of the East Coast during the turn of the century. It was the patient, creative work of Italian artisans living in various “Little Italys” that allowed now-great designers to establish a new, independent trend of costume jewelry. The public was fascinated by the innovation of these skilled immigrants and their non-precious metal creations that seemed real, but were widely accessible. Providence, Rhode Island became the center for costume jewelry production in the early 1900's and throughout most of the 20th century. An early established American trade colony, silver and gold plating was invented and perfected in Providence. Because of this, the city pioneered the manufacture of affordable decorative objects, largely employing immigrant labor, and paving the way for costume jewelry to reach the masses. It was the Italian capability and skill set that helped America reach its “Golden Age” of costume jewelry production that was born at the turn of the century and flourished through the 1950's and beyond.
The evening will begin with a brief biographical film about Providence-born jewelry designer Gene Verri (born Guido Verrecchia), who was the chief designer for Coro, America's premier manufacturer of costume jewelry. Verri was the son of Italian immigrants from Filigano, a tiny village in the Abruzzi region. Gene Verri was born in 1911 in Providence and was gifted with exceptional artistic ability from a young age. His family actually emigrated back to Italy where he lived until he was 16, before returning to America again. Verri became the chief designer for the Coro Company at 22 years old. He passed away on Dec. 30th, 2012, and remained at work on his jewelry bench until his death at 102 years old. Among his most famous creations are the Coro Duettes of the 1930's and 1940's, brooches consisting of figures mounted on a base or in a frame, and cleverly constructed to break apart in two separate pins that could be worn as clips.
After the film, which features interviews with a vibrant Gene Verri in his 90's, a collection of jewelry will be presented. Maria Teresa Cannizzaro, Italian historian and author of Brillanti Illusioni, will show vintage American costume jewelry she has selected personally. Brooches, necklaces and earrings will be included in the collection of affordable pieces from the Providence school of Italian designers. Necklaces and earrings by contemporary, Boston-based jewelry designer, Jennifer Parrish, will also be exhibited for sale. Jennifer designs pieces for movies and television, and her featured work will show a traditional Italian influence made by using inventive modern techniques. Her work is made as homage to such materials as Italian gold and Italian architectural symbols, and features pictorials of Venice. The necklaces and earrings are pressed inside of a hand sculpted, painted clay frame, paying tribute to the beauty of Italy that they represent.
Thursday, August 29th, 6:30PM
Italian American Museum
155 Mulberry Street
(Corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets)
New York, NY 10013
Suggested donation of $10
PLEASE RESERVE EARLY
To reserve a place for this event, please call the
Italian American Museum at (212) 965-9000
or
email: ItalianAmericanMuseum@gmail.com
www.ItalianAmericanMuseum.org
www.IAMGolfClassic.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Italian-American-Museum/90138502227
www.twitter.com/IAMMuseumNYC
www.youtube.com/user/ourmuseum
For information on the Museum's Travel Program, please call (718) 597-1414
or email: JRusso-Winner@ItalianAmericanMuseum.org
The IAM is chartered by the University of the State of New York and has a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS.
