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Frances Higgins Fused Glass Brooch with Embedded Brass and Thread

About the Item

Frances and Michael Higgins were masters in the art of fused glass. Having met at the Chicago Institute of Design, they worked together there to develop and refine methods of fusing glass in a kiln. In the late 1940s, they married and founded the Higgins Studio, where they produced many beautiful and unusual items. Over the years this included decorative tableware and serving pieces, lighting, sculptures, clocks, and jewelry, as well as custom pieces and large scale installations. This is a unique and early piece by Frances Higgins. It was in her personal collection and was purchased at the estate auction of Frances and Michael Higgins. She admired the jewelry of Alexander Calder, and you can see this influence on her work, especially in her use of found bits, her loose and playful technique and her incorporation of bent wire into her jewelry designs. A twisted bundle of thread is sandwiched between two shards of clear glass that fused together to form the irregular, soft edged body of the brooch. There is also a brass wire that runs in a sort of ellipse between the two glass layers. It emerges on one end as the latch for the pin, and on the other end forms as a small "eye" on the outside. A second brass wire makes up the pin and the loopy element that attaches to the "eye" and keeps tension on the pin. Please contact us if you have any questions.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1.13 in (28.71 mm)Width: 3.38 in (85.86 mm)Depth: 0.5 in (12.7 mm)
  • Place of Origin:
    United States
  • Period:
    1940-1949
  • Date of Manufacture:
    c. late 1940s or early 1950s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. great condition, nice patina to brass.
  • Seller Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: AU11090562110

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