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Handcrafted Studio Rotating Pyramid Jewelry Box

$1,500
£1,115.75
€1,306.32
CA$2,093.01
A$2,342.14
CHF 1,222.95
MX$28,794.13
NOK 15,428.97
SEK 14,518.58
DKK 9,746.14
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About the Item

A striking and sculpturally refined studio-crafted jewelry box by American designer John P. Schmidt, dated 1989. Designed in a bold pyramidal form, the piece is meticulously made from Purpleheart wood, which has beautifully mellowed from its original deep purple hue to a rich, organic tone due to natural sun exposure over time. The clean geometry and strong silhouette speak to the piece’s Postmodern aesthetic, while the interior reveals a sophisticated system of rotating shelves and a removable lid—blending function with conceptual artistry. Created at the tail end of the American Craft Movement, this object reflects a period when craftsmanship and modern design began to converge in exciting new ways. From the 1970s through the 1980s, artisans like Schmidt challenged the boundary between utilitarian object and sculpture, embracing traditional materials and joinery while experimenting with contemporary form and ideas. This box exemplifies that spirit—expressive yet disciplined, whimsical yet purposeful. The influence of modernist principles—clarity of form, honest materials, and minimal ornamentation—can be felt throughout, but the design resists categorization. It echoes the philosophical ethos of makers like Wendell Castle and Art Carpenter, where craft became a vehicle for architectural exploration. Accompanied by a short stop-motion animation that captures the box’s motion and modular design, this piece is as much an object of contemplation as it is one of use. It would be equally at home in a Postmodern interior or a serious collection of 20th-century studio furniture and design.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 9 in (22.86 cm)Width: 10 in (25.4 cm)Depth: 10 in (25.4 cm)
  • Style:
    Post-Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
    1980-1989
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1980s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. One small corner of the top removable piece has had a little damage and it was too small to glue back on. See photos it's hardly noticeable when in use. Please ask for more photos if you desire.
  • Seller Location:
    Kilmarnock, VA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU883043851722

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