Collier met hanger c. 1908 - 1911

This pendant with chain was made by Lodewijk Willem van Kooten II, sometime between the late 19th and mid-20th century. Look at the gold filigree and the tiny, precious red stones, nestled inside the fan-like form. I can just imagine van Kooten working away at his bench, coaxing these intricate shapes into being. There's a real sense of delicacy here, a kind of preciousness that makes me think about the tradition of goldsmithing, stretching back centuries. Van Kooten must have been thinking about all those artists who came before, those who mastered the art of working with precious metals and stones. It takes a very particular kind of focus and concentration, a real mastery of the materials. And it’s a beautiful thing to think that all artists are in this ongoing conversation, inspiring each other across time, and carrying the torch of creativity forward.