Charles de Temple (American, worked in England, b. 1929), Necklace, late 1970s, gold, diamonds, garnets

Audio Description

This gold, diamond and garnet necklace was made by Charles de Temple, an American jeweler who worked in England. It was made in the 1970s and de Temple was born in 1929.

This necklace is made up of realistic looking, dense foliage in yellow gold. The part that goes around the neck is narrow but it widens at the center front and becomes a large triangle of small leaves. The edges are irregular and single stems with leaves, embellished with small garnets, dangle from the main shape. Small, faceted diamonds are randomly interspersed among the leaves.

Label Copy

This gold, diamond and garnet necklace was made by Charles de Temple, an American jeweler who worked in England. It was made in the 1970s and de Temple was born in 1929.

Charles de Temple began his artistic career as a painter and sculptor but quickly discovered that jewelry could be envisioned as miniature sculpture. Abstract in nature, his gestural artwork was sometimes translated into textured ornaments. At other times, his gemological designs reveal precise attention to realistic detail and mirror aspects of Art Nouveau jewelry.

The intricate vines that form this necklace create a dense foliage that is remarkably representational. Supplemented by dangling elements embellished with small garnets, it acknowledges the fact that de Temple disliked anything static. Much like other jewelry of the period, this piece is convertible. A central heart-shaped piece can be removed from the necklace. However, the heart is not equipped to be a piece of jewelry on its own and remains as a decorative object, a sculpture. This necklace is probably from de Temple’s Wisteria Collection, which featured other examples with removable heart-shaped components.

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