Jeweler & Book Artist Sondra Sherman

In a combination that can only serve to delight, artist Sondra Sherman combines bespoke jewelry design with book art by carving a hollow into the pages of a book and placing a unique piece of jewelry inspired by that book's subject or theme into the empty space. The piece seen here below, Julia Newberry's Diary, is a Gilded Age memoir of a young Chicago socialite (who also happened to be the daughter of the philanthropist that gave us the Newberry Library). Inside the hollow that Sherman created is a steel and silver brooch, inspired by Newberry and her time.
This piece and others are on view now at the Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton, New Jersey, in a solo exhibition called "Found Subjects." Sherman, an associate professor of art, jewelry, and metalwork at San Diego State University, said of it, "All jewelry becomes a form or element of portraiture, and in 'Found Subjects' the book and jewelry piece came to reflect the imaginary reader, author or wearer."

"Found Subjects" runs through March 9.

Image: Sondra Sherman, Julia Newberry's Diary, 2010, steel, sterling silver,nail polish, Book: 8 X 5.5 X 1 in., Brooch: 3.75 X 2.75 X .5 in. Courtesy of the Hunterdon Art Museum.