The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 20, 2024

Taft Anniversary Necklace

Taft Anniversary Necklace

1991
(American, 1918–2013)
America, 20th century
gold
50 x 3.5 x 1 cm (19 11/16 x 1 3/8 x 3/8 in.)
Bequest of Frances P. Taft, Trustee of the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1973-2017 2017.202
Location: 228B Cleveland Artists

Did You Know?

Drawings and preliminary studies exist for this work within the CMA archives.

Description

The Taft Anniversary Necklace was commissioned by Seth Taft as a gift for his wife on their golden anniversary of 50 years of marriage. Miller had previously created two smaller, less ambitious works in this “gold nugget” or “fragment” style in 1971 and 1986, but the Taft necklace synthesizes his understanding of weight, balance, texture, and form in a way unlike any other work before or after. It is a masterwork of goldsmithing and represents a pinnacle in his career.
  • 1991
    Made by artist for Seth and Frances P. Taft, Cleveland, OH
    1991–2017
    Frances P. Taft, Cleveland, OH, bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2017–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Harrison, Stephen. “Acquisition Highlights: Decorative Art.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine vol. 58. no. 2 (March/April 2018): 19. Reproduced: P. 19; Mentioned: P. 6, 19.
    John Paul Miller collection. 1850-2010, bulk 1940-2000. Cleveland Museum of Art Archives. archive.org
  • The Jewelry of John Paul Miller. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 13, 2010-January 2, 2011).
  • {{cite web|title=Taft Anniversary Necklace|url=false|author=John Paul Miller|year=1991|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2017.202