The Collector's Weekly has a page on their website which has interviews with varioius personalities in the vintage jewelry world. One of the latest interviews is with Elyse Karlin - publisher and editor-in-chief of “Adornment, The Magazine of Jewelry and Related Arts”.
In the interview, Karlin gives her impressions of the influence of women in the movement and also discusses the difference in styles between the British and American Arts and Crafts designers.
The Arts and Crafts movement is generally thought to have been during the years 1890 to 1920, although the movement itself started earlier in England - influenced greatly by William Morris. The movement spread to other countries in Great Britain, including Scotland and Ireland, and then to Europe and Scandinavia before reaching the U. S. in the late 1890s.
Prior to this time, women wore corsets and stays which resulted in very form fitting clothing which was tight at the waist and neck. The clothing designers during the Arts and Crafts period opted for very soft, flowing clothing and the jewelry styles of this time went well with this type of clothing design.
It is hard to define the look of jewelry of this time, but basically a great deal of the jewelry was inspired by nature and organic forms. Leaves, flowers and birds were common motifs. The piece shown here is typical, It is an opal, pearl, and gold pendant by Archibald Knox, featuring pearls and turquoise in a fish design.
You can read the whole interview with Elyse Karlin on this page of the Collector's weekly website.
