A Stylish Pendant by Jarvie

As part of the Two Red Roses Foundation’s (TRRF) continuing effort to collect important works of art for loan to the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, it recently acquired a one-of-a-kind necklace (fig. 1) by Chicago, IL, artist Robert Riddle Jarvie.

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Chicago was a major epicenter for handwrought Arts and Crafts metalwork. Self-taught like many other craftsmen during this time, Jarvie worked as a metalsmith there from 1895 to 1920. He created progressive, modern designs in copper, brass, and bronze, and was best known for his candlesticks (fig. 2). The TRRF necklace is one of only three known pieces of jewelry executed by Jarvie. Wrought from sterling silver and set with four cabochons of chrysoprase – a green, semi-precious gemstone – the pendant suspends from a simple, paperclip-style chain.

In a 1910 advertisement, Jarvie solicited potential customers for their old, outdated silver, so he could refashion their “cast off pieces” into new “charming things.” It is possible that Jarvie used recycled materials to create TRRF’s necklace. MACCM is very excited to have the opportunity to include this unique necklace, and other objects from the Foundation’s metalwork collection, in its future exhibitions.