Marguerite Stix (American, b. Austria, 1904/08–1975), Necklace with Pendant, late 1960s, shell, turquoise, gold

Audio Description

Made by American jeweler Marguerite Stix, who was born in Austria, this shell, turquoise and gold necklace with pendant was designed in the 1960s. Stix lived from 1904/08–1975.

This piece is a long necklace made of short cylindrical turquoise beads interspersed with large round beads of the same material. The pendant is a long shell tapering to a point. The surface of the shell is a creamy color with regular spots of brown that follow its spiral shape. The large, rounded end of the shell has a gold cap with a link that connects it to the beaded turquoise necklace. The pointed end of the shell is covered with gold and set with two oval pieces of turquoise.

Label Copy

Made by American jeweler Marguerite Stix, who was born in Austria, this shell, turquoise and gold necklace with pendant was designed in the 1960s. Stix lived from 1904/08–1975.

Marguerite Stix was first a sculptor and a painter and then became a jewelry designer, combining her artistic talents with gem work. The ‘gems’ Stix used to create her necklaces, earrings, and decorative boxes, however, were seashells. Collecting shells had been a hobby she and her husband indulged in for years, but in the late 1960s Stix began making exquisite jewelry from what they found. She was always inspired by her admiration and protection of the original object.

Stix’s work was predicated on the concept that the seashell itself was the primary driver—the shell came first, the jewelry design second. Impeccably crafted, Stix employed goldsmiths to create her subtle pieces, combining her ocean finds with colored stones and gold, forming a nonintrusive mount and highlighting the shell’s color and shape. With no shop of her own, Stix’s creations were sold at Cartier’s and major department stores.

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