Story: Crafts and applied arts

Elsie Reeve jewellery, 1920s

Elsie Reeve was one of the first women in New Zealand to work as a professional jeweller and her career was only ended by her untimely death in 1927, aged 42. She worked from a studio in Lambton Quay, Wellington, and then later in Queen Street, Auckland. Reeve's work was often distinguished by her use of wire-work tendrils and fine stones. This necklace and earring set, made from silver and turquoise, is a good example of this aesthetic. Zoom in to explore the details of the work.

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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: GH011809/1-3

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How to cite this page:

Douglas Lloyd Jenkins and Lucy Hammonds, 'Crafts and applied arts - Craft from the 1900s to 1920s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/45277/elsie-reeve-jewellery-1920s (accessed 15 May 2024)

Story by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins and Lucy Hammonds, published 22 Oct 2014