It's the dream of every artist, I believe, for his/her works to be loved and admired well beyond the span of one's lifetime. Certainly, such goals are achievable for painters, authors, poets, composers, and musicians, but such accolades seldom befall a jewelry artist--except in rare circumstances. Happily, such are the circumstances for modernist artists and jewelers Art Smith and Elsa Freund. 
Elsa Freund was a one-time school teacher who later, with her husband (a muralist), founded an art school at Hatchett Hall (former residence of Temperance movement leader and hatchet wielder Carrie Nation). Elsa's jewelry is as modern and wearable today as it was in the 1950s when she first made her jewelry which features both her exquisite wire work and her use of enamel and glass over ceramics. Elsa also created lovely paintings, which she sold under the name "Elsie." Here are just a few examples of Elsa's work!Sterling silver pendant with glass on ceramic centerpiece (circa 1950s). For more information, or to purchase this piece, go to www.trocadero.com
Here is a lovely sterling silver wire bracelet. This one features Elsa's beautiful ceramic with enamal and glass coating in blue. Circa 1962. This beautiful piece is housed at the Yale University's Museum of Art.
Although many of Elsa's pieces still exist today, she soon abandoned manufacturing her popular jewelry due, in part, to having to make so many of the same pieces over and over. Still, her jewelry, with the "floating" centerpieces, are some of the most innovative and lovely designs 60 years later!
Picture courtesy of www.artsmithjewelry.com
Arthur "Art" Smith was a talented jeweler who lived in the Village in the early 1950s. From a very early age, Art exhibited signs of great artistic talent. After winning honorable mention in a poster contest, he was encouraged to follow a career in the arts, and won a scholarship to Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. He studied commercial art, and after graduating, took courses at New York University where he studied jewelry design. After working with another black jeweler, Winnifred Mason, he struck out on his own with his own studio and label. Life was not easy for gay, black man working in the arts, and often encountered discrimination and violence. He persevered and sold his pieces across the country. Eventually, his designs were used in stage and dance productions, which led to his making pieces on a grand and large scale. Art's beautiful work lives on today. Above, one of his large scale necklaces. Check below for even more artwork!
A beautiful Art Smith silver necklace made with Turquoise and Rhodochrosite. c 1958 from the Daphne Farago collection.
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