Necklace c. 20th century

This beautiful necklace, with its unknown maker, sits quietly in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The artist’s choice of turquoise beads, with their irregular shapes and subtle variations in color, speaks to an appreciation for the beauty found in natural materials. What I find fascinating is the texture. Each bead, a little world of its own, catches the light differently. You can almost feel the coolness of the stones, their smooth surfaces worn by time and touch. Notice the way the beads are strung together, creating a rhythm of color and form. The larger, more irregular beads at the bottom draw the eye, while the delicate strands cascading down add a sense of movement and fluidity. It reminds me of the work of Eva Hesse, who also embraced imperfection and the beauty of organic forms. The necklace invites us to appreciate the artistry found in everyday objects, to see the beauty in the handmade and the imperfect. It's a conversation across time, a reminder that art is everywhere, waiting to be discovered.