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Stanley Lechtzin expanded the vocabulary of metalsmithing by introducing electroforming, a technique associated with industrial manufacturing. A founding member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and an influential teacher, Lechtzin was also an early proponent of computer-aided design (CAD). He spearheaded research in the use of CAD and rapid prototyping, pushing the boundaries of technology to make jewelry and objects that exist at the crossroads of science, industry, and art. Lechtzin’s interest in innovation is balanced by a deep appreciation for historical jewelry. The ancient torque style is a form of jewelry that Lechtzin has used since 1966. It references the solid or twisted necklaces and armbands made by various cultures across the ancient world, such as the Celts and Gauls. In the late 1960s, he was attracted to plastics for their rich colors and marvelous transparency. To create this neckpiece, Lechtzin shaped acrylic resin using silicone molds and electroformed silver on carved Styrofoam. The result blends the gleam of silver with lush green-colored plastic in sculptural forms that are visually weighty yet physically light.
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Torque #25D
Stanley Lechtzin (American, born in 1936)
American
1972
Medium/Technique
Silver, polyester resin
Dimensions
Height x width: 19.1 × 19.1 × 7.6 cm (7 1/2 × 7 1/2 × 3 in.)
Credit Line
John H. and Ernestine A. Payne Fund and funds donated anonymously in honor of Karen and Michael Rotenberg's 55th anniversary, Karen Rotenberg's birthday, and in memory of Daphne Farago
Accession Number2017.4002
CollectionsJewelry, Contemporary Art, Americas
ClassificationsJewelry / Adornment – Necklaces and neck bands
Stanley Lechtzin expanded the vocabulary of metalsmithing by introducing electroforming, a technique associated with industrial manufacturing. A founding member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and an influential teacher, Lechtzin was also an early proponent of computer-aided design (CAD). He spearheaded research in the use of CAD and rapid prototyping, pushing the boundaries of technology to make jewelry and objects that exist at the crossroads of science, industry, and art. Lechtzin’s interest in innovation is balanced by a deep appreciation for historical jewelry. The ancient torque style is a form of jewelry that Lechtzin has used since 1966. It references the solid or twisted necklaces and armbands made by various cultures across the ancient world, such as the Celts and Gauls. In the late 1960s, he was attracted to plastics for their rich colors and marvelous transparency. To create this neckpiece, Lechtzin shaped acrylic resin using silicone molds and electroformed silver on carved Styrofoam. The result blends the gleam of silver with lush green-colored plastic in sculptural forms that are visually weighty yet physically light.
Provenance2017, sold by the artist to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 11, 2017)