Stanley Lechtzin
"Torque 22-D" Neckpiece

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Artist Stanley Lechtzin (American, born 1936)American, born 1936

CultureAmerican

Titles

"Torque 22-D" Neckpiece

Date1971

MediumSterling silver and polyester resin

DimensionsOverall: 9 × 9 1/2 × 2 1/2 in. (22.9 × 24.1 × 6.4 cm)

Credit LineHelen Williams Drutt Collection, museum purchase funded by the Morgan Foundation

Object number2002.3916

Not on view

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Department

Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

Special Collections

Helen Williams Drutt Collection of Contemporary Studio Jewelry

Object Type

JEWELRY & ADORNMENT

DescriptionIn the late 1960s, like many of his European counterparts, Stanley Lechtzin became increasingly attracted to the idea of combining plastics with precious metals in his jewelry. Soon, Lechtzin began to use the wide color palette of polyester resin to his advantage, combining it with electroformed metal and incorporating it into constructions such as torques. Torque 22-D is one of three torques in the MFAH Helen Williams Drutt Collection. The body of the swivel mechanism was electroformed, whereas the finials were fabricated by hand. The amber-colored resin was cast in a minimal shape as a way of experimenting with variations in form.

ProvenanceThe artist; Helen Williams Drutt English; purchased by the MFAH, 2002.
Exhibition History"Stanley Lechtzin," Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, 1973.

"Modern Jewelry, 1964-1986: The Helen Williams Drutt Collection," The Château Dufresne, Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts, November 15, 1984–February 3, 1985; Honolulu Academy of Arts, January 22–March 9, 1986; Cleveland Institute of Art, September 5–30, 1986; Philadelphia Museum of Art, November 2, 1986–February 1, 1987.

"Contemporary Jewelry: 1964-1993, Selected Works, Helen Williams Drutt Collection," Arkansas Art Center Decorative Arts Museum, Little Rock, October 8–November 21, 1993.

"Schmuck Unserer Zeit, 1964-1993, Sammlung Helen Williams Drutt, USA," Museum Bellerive, Zürich, February 10–May 1, 1994.

"A Moveable Feast: Helen Williams Drutt Collection 1964-1994," Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, November 18, 1994–January 8, 1995; Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Ostend, Belgium; June 17–September 24, 1995.

"Beyond Ornament: Contemporary Jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, August 16, 2003–February 29, 2004.

"Ornament as Art: Avant-Garde Jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, September 30, 2007–January 27, 2008; Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, March 14–July 6, 2008; Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Charlotte, August 16, 2008–January 4, 2009; Tacoma Art Museum, Washington, June 27–September 13, 2009.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

"Lechtzin / Sterling" and makers mark stamped on silver curve on left side.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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