History of Design

What do the Parthenon, the Cartier Tank watch, the Hasselblad camera, the Chanel suit, the Jaguar, the lamps of Tiffany & Co. and the Empire State Building have in common?

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They are all icons of design. They represent the epitome of a certain style of design brought to such perfection that it endures through the ages. These styles are found in architecture, furniture, the graphic arts, the decorative arts, and, of course, in jewelry.

Art Deco

The Empire State Building, for instance, is a prime example of Art Deco design, a style from the 1930s currently experiencing a resurgence of popularity. Art Deco jewelry is equally classic and sought after, having the same geometric lines, sleek curves, and mixture of black-and-white elements as the Empire State Building. Other famous Art Deco buildings include the Chrysler Building and the Rockefeller Center.

How the Past Informs the Present

To be a top-echelon jewelry designer is to be a mixture of architect, sculptor, painter, and art historian. The designers represented by Pearlman's are experts in the great traditions of design. In fact, designers Robert Lee Morris and George Sawyer both credit sculpture as an inspiration for their work. Prolific jewelry and accessories designer Barry Kieselstein-Cord has many pieces of his work in the world's top museums. Further, all have studied and reinterpreted great jewelry of the past and then transformed it with their own unique genius.

Victorian

Something that exemplifies a Victorian style today, for example, will display the wonderful decorative motifs of the nineteenth century, but is improved via innovative technology and the new sensibilities of a twenty-first century artist.

Tomorrow's Design Icons

While contemporary, the works of these designers will be just as timeless as the artists and designers who preceded them. From Damiani to Eddie Sakamoto, there isn't one designer represented here who hasn't broken new ground in jewelry, and in art. Their creations are the design icons of tomorrow.