Featured Brutalist? Necklace

Brutalist is a new term for me- would this necklace come under that description or does it have to come from a particular era?
Personally this piece leaves me a bit(very!)cold but all information welcome. Thank you.

 

I would call it Brutalist. And probably made when Brutalist jewellery was popular.
Brutalist is when the material looks crude and rough, like it wasn't worked in any way.

 

Which was when?
Can't imagine why it was popular!

 

Here in Europe 1950s-60s, probably roughly ( ) the same period in North America.

 

Some of it is quite striking IMHO, I like the shapes and textures.

 

I quite like the 'blobby' kind of Brutalist jewellery, like this ring I used to have:


Brutalism was an understandable reaction to the clean lines of Art Deco and other very stylized forms of Modernism, which could be quite austere. It brought design back to earth.

 

This one may be later c1970s, alas it’s broken but I have worn it.
~

 

I just got this piece, similar to your ring. So would this be brutalist also? It is sterling silver.

 

Agree US Brutalism was later here than in Europe as both MCM and Brutalism were architectural terms and the jewelry followed the architecture.US MCM started in the 50s but the height of US Brutalism was 60s through 70s. MCM (Mid Century Modern) is IMO a style term related to a specific period (50s through 70s) where Brutalism is more a stylistic term and can be used for any period. The height of US Brutalism in jewelry and furniture IMO was the 70s although Brutalist work continues today and your piece is definitely Brutalist regardless of when it was made. Here’s one of my fave early Brutalist works from Casa Batlló (Gaudi) in Barcelona. No clue who the gal is-I just had to grab a picture of this. Built in 1904 so Brutalism has had a very long run. I love the style!

 

That’s Brutalist IMO! Nice!

 

Different strokes LOL. I love it-maybe because it brings me back to my hippy dippy days. Almost all the pieces I find are brass which I can’t wear but I love that globby work and do own a beautiful Brutalist sterling and gold necklace that my parents had made for me in Israel in the 70s.

 

That is gorgeous, Jaime.
There is a bit of an Atlantic divide when it comes to the term Brutalist. To me Houseful's bracelet is Brutalist, it suggests a rough material, a bit like the rough concrete in Brutalist buildings.
Your beauty looks general Modernist to me, with a hint of Brutalism. But I think it would probably be Brutalist to American eyes. Different traditions.

That is gorgeous! I love Gaudí and other Catalan designers of the time. Again, that is not Brutalist to me, but Continental European Arts&Crafts, bordering on Art Nouveau.
I have some Continental Arts&Crafts jewellery, from different countries, and much of it would look perfectly at home in a Gaudí building.

 

Is 'blobby' the kind of technical terminology I need to remember? Describes it perfectly though.....

 

Yes it is, remember it at all times.
It is highly technical, as Sir Michael Caine would say: "not many people know this".

 

Thankyou, that's exactly what I wanted to know!. Love what I learn on this forum

 

Ha ha. Brilliant.

 

Overall I agree with you AJ and I don’t consider Gaudi Brutalist in the traditional sense and he was way earlier but that bronze and glass stairwell ornament is totally Brutalist to me. I know he would have considered it a more organic form.

 

Brutalism was so popular in the 70s and 80s here in USA, even Avon made it

Not that there's anything wrong with Avon, per se... Some is very collectible. Here's a piece (with high asking price) from an Elizabeth Taylor line on etsy:

 

Very nice bangle, I would have no problem wearing it. Nice bling, and that would be considered Brutalist here as well.

 

Did you test your necklace,
@KSW?