Brooch and Earrings c. 1937

This is Vera Van Voris’s study of a brooch and earrings. The lack of a firm date for the work raises interesting questions about its function. Was it a study for production, or a record of what was previously made? The floral patterns evoke the naturalism that dominated design in the late 19th century, from wallpaper to jewelry. It’s worth noting that Van Voris was a woman working during a time when art schools and institutions were becoming more open to female artists, and how this changed the kind of design that was considered culturally important. We can look into design publications and archives of jewelry firms from the period to determine how these items fit into a larger marketplace and to understand the evolving role of women as both designers and consumers of such luxury items.