Worn to be alive
Studio Jewelry and objects from a German Private Collection

On the occasion of the first jewelry auction of the year, more than 300 selected objects by primarily German and Dutch artists from 1970 to the mid-1990s await you. The present collection comes from the possession of a collector couple who have accumulated passionately for over 40 years, surrounding themselves with modern art, design and with selected crafts in all aspects of life. Everything is beautiful, not as a dictate, but as a way of life and bringing inspiration to the everyday.

'Worn to be alive' - the title is not only a tribute to an attitude towards life, but also a stipulation. Because, what unites all the designers represented here, is a fascination with the complex interaction between the body and jewelry. It is a matter of exploring boundaries, of distancing oneself from the traditional concept of jewelry. The objects intervene in the appearance of the wearer, change their silhouette and interact with the dynamics of the body.

Again and again, the collection celebrates the aspect of series and product design. Thus, individual designs are presented in several colors at the same time, like the 'Durchsteck' brooches by Johanna Dahm. The 'Cones' bangles by Herman Hermsen stand side by side with the egg cups of the same name, whose function only results from a varied proportion. On the other hand, the elaborately crafted individual pieces such as the detailed necklace by Joyce J. Scott, worked in bead embroidery, or the meticulously crafted paper necklace by Nel Linssen stand their ground.

The collection illustrates impressively the constant exchange between the designers themselves and the galleries. It questions closeness, but also distance to product design and recognizes values that are not manifested in the material, but in the concept of the designs.

Even on the last day of the June auctions, the lively participation of bidders did not break off. The extensive collection of jewelry from German private ownership attracted buyers from all over the world.

The focus was on the fancy designs of the 1980s by Herman Hermsen. Both serial works and unique pieces were competed for by bidders and led to some price increases. The necklace '1/3 - 1/3 - 1/3' from 1982, produced in an edition of 15 pieces, went to a new owner for €2,500.

The necklace 'Venusia' by Joyce J. Scott was particularly sought after. The elaborate work attracted the attention of high-ranking institutions and, after an exciting exchange of bids, went to an international museum for € 8,000.