Product Info

Miye Matsukata (1922-1981) was a Japanese American artist jeweler who was one of the most influential jewelry artists of the 1970’s. She thought of her work as painting-sculptures which started as drawings but evolved into three dimensional sculptures as they were constructed.

Matsukata attended the Boston Museum of Fine Arts school in the mid-1940’s where she studied classical holloware and jewelry making. After completing her training she, along with classmates Naomi Katz Harris and Janice Whipple Williams, formed Atelier Janiye (a conjunction of parts of their names). In 1958 she opened her own studio and showroom.

During the early part of her career Matsukata worked primarily in silver, but after receiving a travel grant in 1966 she became enamored with the color of high karat gold and began to incorporate it into her work. She also began incorporating unusual materials such as ancient beads, coins, beach glass, and antique textiles.

After studying textile techniques in metal with Arlene Fisch who was teaching at Boston University in the mid-1970’s, Matsukata began to incorporate them into her work, as seen in this extraordinary necklace.

The necklace is made of 24 karat gold wire crocheted into a lacy web in which five plaques of jade are woven; the bottom edge is finished with elongated pearls and the back has two handmade gold buttons, and appropriate closure for a necklace that is made utilizing a technique typically used with textiles.

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