Masterful Works by Alexandra Solowij Watkins & Nancy Michel

November 15, 2014 – December 30, 2014


  • MichelN_NM854_Earrings_OpalDoublets_sm
  • MichelN_NM2020_QuartzRing_sm
  • MichelN_OpalOpalite_Necklace
  • MichelN_Rings
  • WatkinsA_ASW861_Earclips_Shower_sm
  • WatkinsA_ASW881_Earrings_Dangle_PL.pages
  • WatkinsA_ASW970_Bracelet
  • WatkinsA_ASW973_Porticos_Bracelet
  • WatkinsA_ASW972_Bracelet_TwoInOne_sm
  • WatkinsA_ASW1719-HeavyGoldChain_Necklace
  • WatkinsA_ASW1725_Brooch_MargretCraver_sm

Earrings

Opal, 18K, 22K and 24K gold


    Artwork Inquire Form

    ×
    Ring

    Rutilated quartz, 18K and 24K gold


      Artwork Inquire Form

      ×
      Necklace

      Opals, opalite, 18K, 22K, and 24K gold


        Artwork Inquire Form

        ×
        Rings
        (Left) Pink tourmaline cabochon, 18K, 22K and 24K gold (center) Aquamarine cabochon, 18K and 22K gold (right) Mandarin garnet, 18K, 22K and 24K gold

          Artwork Inquire Form

          ×
          Shower, Ear Clips

          22K and 18K yellow gold


            Artwork Inquire Form

            ×
            Earrings

            22K and 18K yellow gold


              Artwork Inquire Form

              ×
              Bracelet

              18K white and yellow gold


                Artwork Inquire Form

                ×
                Porticos, Bracelet

                18K white and yellow gold


                  Artwork Inquire Form

                  ×
                  Two In One, Bracelet

                  18K white and yellow gold, 22K yellow gold


                    Artwork Inquire Form

                    ×
                    Heavy Chain, Necklace

                    24K and 18K gold


                      Artwork Inquire Form

                      ×
                      Brooch

                      24K and 18K gold with Margret Craver “en resille” centerpiece


                        Artwork Inquire Form

                        ×
                        • IMAGES:
                        • /
                        • MichelN_NM854_Earrings_OpalDoublets_sm
                          Earrings

                          Opal, 18K, 22K and 24K gold

                          Inquire

                        • MichelN_NM2020_QuartzRing_sm
                          Ring

                          Rutilated quartz, 18K and 24K gold

                          Inquire

                        • MichelN_OpalOpalite_Necklace
                          Necklace

                          Opals, opalite, 18K, 22K, and 24K gold

                          Inquire

                        • MichelN_Rings
                          Rings
                          (Left) Pink tourmaline cabochon, 18K, 22K and 24K gold (center) Aquamarine cabochon, 18K and 22K gold (right) Mandarin garnet, 18K, 22K and 24K gold

                          Inquire

                        • WatkinsA_ASW861_Earclips_Shower_sm
                          Shower, Ear Clips

                          22K and 18K yellow gold

                          Inquire

                        • WatkinsA_ASW881_Earrings_Dangle_PL.pages
                          Earrings

                          22K and 18K yellow gold

                          Inquire

                        • WatkinsA_ASW970_Bracelet
                          Bracelet

                          18K white and yellow gold

                          Inquire

                        • WatkinsA_ASW973_Porticos_Bracelet
                          Porticos, Bracelet

                          18K white and yellow gold

                          Inquire

                        • WatkinsA_ASW972_Bracelet_TwoInOne_sm
                          Two In One, Bracelet

                          18K white and yellow gold, 22K yellow gold

                          Inquire

                        • WatkinsA_ASW1719-HeavyGoldChain_Necklace
                          Heavy Chain, Necklace

                          24K and 18K gold

                          Inquire

                        • WatkinsA_ASW1725_Brooch_MargretCraver_sm
                          Brooch

                          24K and 18K gold with Margret Craver "en resille" centerpiece

                          Inquire


                        Earrings

                        Opal, 18K, 22K and 24K gold


                          Artwork Inquire Form

                          ×

                          Ring

                          Rutilated quartz, 18K and 24K gold


                            Artwork Inquire Form

                            ×

                            Necklace

                            Opals, opalite, 18K, 22K, and 24K gold


                              Artwork Inquire Form

                              ×

                              Rings
                              (Left) Pink tourmaline cabochon, 18K, 22K and 24K gold (center) Aquamarine cabochon, 18K and 22K gold (right) Mandarin garnet, 18K, 22K and 24K gold


                                Artwork Inquire Form

                                ×

                                Shower, Ear Clips

                                22K and 18K yellow gold


                                  Artwork Inquire Form

                                  ×

                                  Earrings

                                  22K and 18K yellow gold


                                    Artwork Inquire Form

                                    ×

                                    Bracelet

                                    18K white and yellow gold


                                      Artwork Inquire Form

                                      ×

                                      Porticos, Bracelet

                                      18K white and yellow gold


                                        Artwork Inquire Form

                                        ×

                                        Two In One, Bracelet

                                        18K white and yellow gold, 22K yellow gold


                                          Artwork Inquire Form

                                          ×

                                          Heavy Chain, Necklace

                                          24K and 18K gold


                                            Artwork Inquire Form

                                            ×

                                            Brooch

                                            24K and 18K gold with Margret Craver “en resille” centerpiece


                                              Artwork Inquire Form

                                              ×

                                              Alexandra Watkins

                                              “I make structures for the landscape of the human body. My fascination with structure, negative space and with indigenous architecture translates into dimensional and wearable pieces. Frequently I incorporate crystal formations or uncut stones, and thus bring the natural world closer to the wearer.”

                                              – Alexandra Watkins

                                              Alexandra Solowij Watkins was co-owner with Nancy Michel of Atelier Janiyé, the legendary studio established in 1958 by Miye Matsukata, a pioneering force in the studio jewelry movement. Born in Poland, Watkins studied fashion design in Paris, France, painting in Montréal, Canada, and jewelry and silversmithing in Boston, Massachusetts. Initially she designed hollowware for Gorham Silver and for the jewelry industry. Ultimately, she was attracted to the creative freedom of one-of-a-kind work in high karat gold and the use of unusual stones.

                                              Nancy Michel

                                              “My fascination with nature and with ancient man-made structures is reflected in the narrative quality of my sculptural jewelry. Stonehenge, the remains of cliff dwellings in the southwest, the gnarled roots of a tree, a lichen-encrusted stone wall — these elements conjure images which appear in my work in abstracted and recognizable forms. Each piece is designed to impart a sense of spontaneity, movement, and complexity. I seek out new influences which challenge and inspire me as an artist — this growth and evolution resonates in my work.”

                                              – Nancy Michel

                                              Nancy Michel spent her childhood living in many regions of the United States and Europe. In 1959 she moved to Florida with her family where her fascination with nature and landscape began to unfold. In 1967 she moved to Boston to attend the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, receiving a traveling fellowship in the metals department in 1972. Over the next few years Nancy taught in several metals programs and worked for two years as a custom designer in a jewelry studio in Harvard Square. She joined the workshop of Miye Matsukata in 1975 and stayed until Matsukata’s death in 1982. Since 1982 she and business partner Alexandra Watkins continued the tradition of Atelier Janiyé with their elegant, powerful, sculptural jewelry. The arts community is fortunate to have their work in the permanent collection of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA.