Material World: Adornment from Around the Globe

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Material World: Adornment from Around the Globe
Spencer Museum of Art Interns 2013–2014, curator
Gallery 405, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Adorning the body fulfills a basic human need to beautify the self. An array of forms, styles, and materials communicate different cultural ideals of beauty. Using works found in the Spencer Museum of Art’s permanent collection and those on loan from Robert Hiller, Material World: Adornment from Around the Globe explores a variety of objects created from diverse materials. This exhibition contains over seventy examples of jewelry and accessories from nearly every continent in the world and is divided into five categories: Stone, Metal, Organic, Synthetic, and Collected. Though many of the works are made of mixed materials, each object is arranged according to its most striking material feature. Co-curated by Abby Anderson, Raechel Cook, Ye Gee Kwon, Laura Minton, and Jessie Sirico

Works of art

Nancy Loo Bjorge
necklace, 1974
Nancy Loo Bjorge
bracelet, early 1900s
Nancy Loo Bjorge
cylindrical ornament with brown tassels, late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Nancy Loo Bjorge
ring, 1960s
Nancy Loo Bjorge
pendant, 1960s
Theodor Fahrner
Nikolaus Thallmayr; Eduard Schöpflich
Murrle Bennett & Co.
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist
stone necklace with pendant, late 1800s–1951
unrecorded A:shiwi (Zuñi) artist
bolo tie with fancy dancer, late 1800s–1963
unrecorded Diné (Navajo) artist
turquoise and silver ring, late 1800s–1963
Eddie Tsalabutie
concho belt, mid 1900s–1965
Nancy Loo Bjorge
necklace, 1974
Nancy Loo Bjorge
Kevin Coates
Kevin Coates
pendant, 1900s
Aggie Benyon
Ring, date unknown
Joël Degen
brooch, 2004
Joël Degen
Joël Degen
cuff bracelet, late 1800s–1975
unrecorded Hausa artist
cuff bracelet, late 1800s–1975
unrecorded Diné (Navajo) artist
unrecorded Coastal Zapotec artist
Júlia Kunovská
bracelet, 2009
Nancy Loo Bjorge
necklace, 1972
Nancy Loo Bjorge
necklace, 1974
Mirjam Hiller
unrecorded Hawazma artist
hijab (men's amulet), 1983–1984
unrecorded Hawazma artist
kanzashi hairpin, date unknown
Levinger & Bissinger
unrecorded Australian Aboriginal artist
nose bone, late 1800s–1944
unrecorded Australian Aboriginal artist
one of a set of 90 bracelets, late 1800s–1944
unrecorded Ipili-Payala artist
men's arm band, late 1800s–1967
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
men's feathered neck ornament, late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Zulu artist
ear spool, late 1800s–1965
unrecorded Native Alaskan artist
bracelet, 1930s–1948
unrecorded Bororo artist
necklace, 1970s
unrecorded Bororo artist
necklace, 1970s
unrecorded Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian) artist
nut lei (necklace), late 1800s–1980
unrecorded Aché artist
necklace, late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Aché artist
comb, circa 1940, Showa period (1926–1989)
unrecorded Aché artist
one of a set of three bracelets, late 1800s–2007
unrecorded Aché artist
kushi (comb), 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Staatliche Majolika Keramik Manufaktur; Max Heinze; Ilse Hohenreuther
brooch, circa 1945–1960
Württemberg Metal Factory
necklace, circa 1930
Levinger & Bissinger
Theodor Fahrner
mourning brooch, 1914–1919
Eisenberg & Sons, Inc.
brooch, circa 1935
Trifari
pair of brooch clips, circa 1935
Trifari
kanzashi hairpin, date unknown
Nancy Loo Bjorge
necklace, 1972
Nancy Loo Bjorge
necklace, circa 2000
unrecorded Zulu artist
pair of beaded anklets, late 1800s–1965
unrecorded Zulu artist
necklace, late 1800s–1981
unrecorded Hawazma artist
two bracelets, 1983–1984
unrecorded Maasai artist
pair of men's ear ornaments, late 1800s–1968
unrecorded Lakota artist
beaded necklace with pendant, late 1800s–1992
unknown maker
pin with bird, late 1800s–1998
Jean-Pierre Dussaillant
unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist
unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist
hairpin, circa 1940, Showa period (1926–1989)
Cai-Xuan (Molly) Wu