{"product_id":"1975-constructivist-ring-by-joel-degen","title":"1975 Constructivist Ring by Joel Degen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan data-heading=\"p\"\u003eDegen's jewellery is not sculpted; it is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-heading=\"p\"\u003econstructed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan data-heading=\"p\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eJoel Degen (born 1941) is a self-taught jeweller who moved to London from France in 1965 and joined what is now \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/caagallery.org.uk\/post\/19914-joel-degen-60-years-of-innovation-at-contemporary-applied-arts\"\u003eContemporary Applied Arts\u003c\/a\u003e the following year, beginning a membership that has now lasted sixty years. His early work combined silver with unexpected materials such as anodised aluminium, onyx and even computer fittings, and rings from this period are held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. From the start, Degen treated jewellery as something to be constructed rather than sculpted: a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/collections.vam.ac.uk\/item\/O86418\/rings-with-interchangeable-stones-design-degen-joel\/\"\u003e1976 design drawing in the V\u0026amp;A\u003c\/a\u003e shows rings whose coloured stones lock into place or are held by hidden springs so they can be swapped and reconfigured.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis ring, hallmarked in London in 1975, belongs to that inventive silver period. It is a constructivist piece in silver, onyx and carnelian, made in two interlinking parts that fit together in multiple ways. Later in the decade Degen turned to titanium, winning first prizes at De Beers Diamonds Today in 1978 and 1981, and his work is now in the collections of Goldsmiths’ Hall, the V\u0026amp;A, the Crafts Council and the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEra: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostowl.com\/blogs\/articles\/modernism\"\u003ePost-War Modern\u003c\/a\u003e, 1975\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStones: Onyx \u0026amp; Carnelian\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRing size: L 1\/2 or 6 US. Not resizable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHead: 19mm by 9.7mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHallmarks: English, Sterling Silver, London, 1975. JD maker's mark.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Great vintage condition; light wear consistent with age\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lost Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53512460370232,"sku":"LO3262","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/7387\/2952\/files\/Website-7886.jpg?v=1792745321","url":"https:\/\/lostowl.com\/products\/1975-constructivist-ring-by-joel-degen","provider":"Lost Owl Jewelry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}