Margaret De Patta

Studio jewelry pioneer Margaret De Patta blended Constructivist principals with Bauhaus design to create miniature sculpture that moved with its wearer. Based in the Bay Area, De Patta is credited with starting the American studio jewelry movement on the West Coast. OMCA holds the largest collection of De Patta’s work, most of which was donated by her husband Eugene Bielawski after the artist’s untimely death in 1964. The Margaret De Patta Memorial Collection includes pendants, rings, brooches, and other items of adornment designed and produced by the artist over the course of her 35-year career. In addition, OMCA also houses important archival materials that document the artist’s life as well as her business, Designs Contemporary.

 

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Pin
1950

Sterling silver and white gold pin in an abstract pattern, set with moss agate, amber, coral, malachite and black onyx.

Watch
1942

Sterling silver bracelet cuff watch. The analog watch movement is made by the Elgin National Watch Company, and is set within an ebony trapezoid.

n.d.

rectangular silver brooch with half a pearl in center

c.1955

Sterling silver and rutilated quartz pendant. The pendant has a modern geometric form with a three-pronged silver element placed over a curved silver element. A circular flat-top quartz stone...

mid 20th century

14k yellow gold ring with square cut faceted obsidian stone.

c. 1950

This is a pair of modern geometric sterling silver earrings set with tombstone-shaped clear quartz stones.

n.d.

Neck chain (draw string) attached is 36" long.

Pin
c. 1940

Catalog #17. E. Bielawski dates this pin approx. 1940. He feels it was done shortly before De Patta studied at the Chicago "Bauhaus". Commissioned by the donor. Yellow gold with topaz...

Sterling silver brooch in a free-form squiggly design

Man's Ring
1946
1960
1950
1962
1946-1959
1954
1950

These are fragments of earrings. There are no earposts or wires.

1950
1950
1958-1962

Pendant with touchstones and a pearl set around a vertical sterling silver bar. Black woven cord with silver toggle clasp

1934
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