Center For Jewelry Studies ~ Christie Romero

CENTER FOR JEWELRY STUDIES
The Center for Jewelry Studies dedicated to the dissemination of information on the history, identification, and marketing of antique, period, and vintage jewelry. The Center has offered and continues to provide quality programs that are designed to supplement the careers of those in jewelry-related fields - including dealers, appraisers, jewelers and gemologists - as well as enhance the enjoyment of collectors, heirs, and jewelry lovers.
Current Programs and Projects
Currently, Christie Romero, the Director of CJS, is working at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, teaching classes on The History of Jewelry for their new Jewelry Design Department. Ms. Romero is also in collaboration with FIDM Museum and Galleries on an upcoming exhibition and catalog, called "Adorned: Two Centuries of Jewelry & Dress, c. 1800-2000" scheduled to open in Fall 2011.


Featured Piece:
From the Mid-Century Modern American Studio Jewelry section of Warman's Jewelry 3rd edition: Necklace, c. 1955, a collar of three curved segments of sheet silver joined with circular wire rings and a hook clasp, the center front surmounted by an ovoid plaque suspending a biomorphic pendant of irregularly shaped plaques, the smaller surmounting the larger and bezel-set with an oval labradorite cabochon, reverse impressed "Hurst Kingsbury, Sterling" for Joan Hurst and Jill Kingsbury, New York NY, 4-3/4" dia., pendant 3-1/4" long. Hurst & Kingsbury will be among a number of women artist-jewelers of the American Crafts Movement, c. 1900-2000 to be discussed in a seminar presented by Christie Romero at the annual antique and period jewelry conference known as Jewelry Camp, at Hofstra University July 17-19, 2009. For further information, conference schedule, speakers and registration, go to www.jewelrycamp.org Past Featured Pieces
News & Events:
GEMS & JEWELRY VIDEO NOW ACCESSIBLE ONLINE The Center for Jewelry Studies is pleased to announce the online availability of "Gems & Jewelry," an educational video produced by The Futures Channel. Christie Romero is one of three experts who were interviewed for this video, which is distributed to schools and teachers to incorporate into their lesson plans. It shows the students how math and science can be applied to "real life" occupations. We think this excellent production will inspire them to become gemologists, gem-cutters, and jewelry historians! To see the video, click www.thefutureschannel.com The Center for Jewelry Studies is pleased to announce the launch of a new online publication: "Organic Gems" is an online periodical devoted entirely to gem materials of plant and animal origin, the best known being amber, jet, ivory, bone, horn, tortoiseshell, pearl, shell and coral. It will be published six times annually, and is accessible by subscription, through the web site of Maggie Campbell Pedersen, author of Gem and Ornamental Materials of Organic Origin. OG will be illustrated with good quality, descriptive photographs. Every issue will contain an article giving basic backgrounds and information on one of the organic materials (e.g. how to recognize it, how to test it, and whether it is covered by trade bans). Further articles will cover any and every aspect of organics, from their historical uses, to their modern-day enhancing treatments. A guest author will contribute to each issue, sharing his or her expertise in the field of organics. Guest authors will include museum curators, conservators, gemologists, auctioneers, appraisers and jewelers. Last, but possibly most importantly, the final section in each issue, "Forum – the readers’ page," will bring the most up-to-date information available on research, market trends, frauds, fakes, and anything else that may be of use to the subscribers, who are invited to contribute with information and comments. For a complimentary look at Issue 1, log on to www.maggiecp.com and click on "Online Periodical." West Coast Chapter of Jewelry Historians The American Society of Jewelry Historians now has a second regional chapter, the West Coast Chapter. The co-directors of the Chapter are Christie Romero, Peter Shemonsky and Karen Lorene. The chapter's formation means that individuals who join the Society and who live in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii will automatically become members of both the national organization and the West Coast Chapter. The American Society of Jewelry Historians is a non-profit tax exempt organization that encourages deeper understanding of the significance of jewelry—the most personal of the decorative arts. In addition to jewelry historians, its membership is composed of collectors, dealers, jewelry artists, appraisers, curators, and retail jewelers. Anyone with an interest in the study of jewelry is welcome to join. The Society sponsors four lectures and a special event per year in New York City featuring specialists in all areas of jewelry—from ancient to antique, from period to contemporary. The New England Chapter holds several lectures every year in Boston, MA. A quarterly newsletter, including an extensive calendar of jewelry-related events, a website and a membership directory are also included in a members’ benefits. The Society also sponsors an all day seminar biannually. www.jewelryhistorians.org Non-members are welcome to attend Society lectures by making a reservation. For further information about the Society and/or an enrollment form, please send an e-mail to info@jewelryhistorians.org, or call (914) 235-0983.
Books:
3rd Edition of Warman's Jewelry The ALL COLOR Warman's Jewelry 3rd Edition makes a great gift! Save 15% off the cover price by ordering through PayPal on our site, and a copy signed to the recipient will be sent to you via PriorityMail with Delivery Confirmation. Please specify the name of the recipient under "Message" in the order form. Important! A 10-page supplement of references and other sources used in Warman's Jewelry 3rd edition is available for those who buy the book from sources other than this site (those ordering the book from this site will be emailed the supplement automatically). Click here to request a copy. The Collector's Timeline is Sold Out The Center for Jewelry Studies has sold out their popular publication, a perfect companion for antique auctions and shows, flea markets, estate sales and dealers: The Collector's Timeline The Collector's Timeline, now a collector's item itself, was adapted from Warman's Jewelry 3rd edition by Christie Romero.
In MEMORIAM:
The Center for Jewelry Studies is greatly saddened to report the passing of Dr. Joe Sataloff. Dr. Sataloff, author of Art Nouveau Jewelry and The Pleasure of Jewelry and Gemstones was, along with his wife Ruth, a collector of outstanding Art Nouveau jewelry which they unselfishly shared with the world. He founded the annual Antique & Period Jewelry Conference affectionately known as "Jewelry Camp," which originated in Orono Maine, now in its 27th year. Dr. Joe was known throughout the antique jewelry world for his enthusiastic support of jewelry scholarship and the sharing of information that his conference became famous for. Photo from PENTA “Dog Collar” plaque with a floral motif, 1899–1901. René Lalique (French, 1860–1945). Gold, enamel, and diamond. (Courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston) "Dr. Sataloff will be sorely missed by all of us who remember him for his generosity, his sense of humor, and his poetic appreciation and passion for antique and period jewelry." Christie Romero "Anyone who has any involvement with Art Nouveau jewelry has been touched by Dr. Sataloff. Whether through images of his and his wife's collection or from his publication on Art Nouveau jewelry that remains a standard text today, he was a giant in this community and will be greatly missed." Danusia Niklewicz Thank you, Dr. Joe for all you have done for us!