Mesh Necklace, Series No. 26

Artist Linda MacNeil (American, born 1954)

Date1996

DimensionsMax L: 10 3/16 in. (25.9 cm); Max W: 2 in. (5.1 cm); Max Depth: 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm)

Mediumacid-polished pâte-de-verre glass, polished blue glass, 24k gold-plated brass

ClassificationJewelry

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. William Block

Object number

2000.62

On View

Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion (2444 Monroe Street), Glass Pavilion Gallery, 2

DescriptionSandblasted and acid-polished lavender pâte-de-verre, donut-shaped disk with raised decoration along its perimeter. A circular piece of blue plate glass is inset in the center of the pendant surrounded by a gold mount. The pendant hangs from a 24k gold plated brass commercial mesh chain.

Label TextLinda MacNeil explores the union of glass and metal to create artwork that oscillates between glass jewelry and wearable sculpture for the female body. Replacing gemstones with glass, she uses lapidary techniques to probe the interactions between glass and light. In Mesh Necklace, Series No. 26, MacNeil also plays with texture, juxtaposing the matte, almost pebbly surface of the donut-shaped form with the central, highly polished piece of plate glass. MacNeill designed the pieces in the Mesh Series to be a comfortable, focal point on a woman’s body. Setting this necklace apart, MacNeil sourced the glass frit used to cast this pâte-de-verre (glass paste) pendant from Cristallerie Daum in Nancy, France nearly a decade before its making.Published ReferencesMacNeil, Linda, United in Beauty: The Jewelry and Collectors of Linda MacNeil, Atglen, PA, Schiffer, 2002, repr. p. 168 (col.).Exhibition HistoryPittsburgh (PA), Carnegie Museum of Art; Toledo Museum of Art, Contemporary Directions: Glass from the Maxine and William Block Collection, 2002-2004, p. 75, repr. (col.) p. 34.Comparative ReferencesSee also Chambers, Karen S., "Linda MacNeil: A Detailed Look," Metalsmith 16, 3 (Summer 1996), 24-33. cf. Concord, New Hampshire, The Art Center in Hargate St. Paul's School, Dan Dailey Linda MacNeil, 1999, 37-40, 60.