From the VMFA website:
"Rachel Lambert Mellon (1910–2014) was a dedicated patron of the arts. She contributed substantially to VMFA’s permanent collection with her donation of jewelry and objects d’art she collected and commissioned from French jewelry designer Jean Schlumberger. Her husband, Paul Mellon, credited her with inspiring his interest in French art, and together they gave a portion of their collections to the museum.
Artist-jeweler Jean Schlumberger transformed 20th-century fashion with his sculptural designs for vibrant and whimsical jewelry and accessories inspired by nature. From crafting costume jewelry for designer Elsa Schiaparelli in 1930s Paris to heading his own private salon at New York’s Tiffany & Co. beginning in the 1950s, Schlumberger was known for inventive interpretations of animal and botanical subjects and iconic pieces that came to define mid-century chic."
I enjoyed visiting this imaginatively-arranged collection, on display at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts til June 18, but to see a piece more in keeping with my taste, check out my other posting. http://365project.org/allie912/whatintheworld/2017-02-15
