A Brilliant Showing by Artists' Jewellery

In the exhibition catalogue for the Diane Venet collection at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris, Karine Lacquemant is categorical: "Artists' jewellery does not belong to the world of refined jewellery, which prioritises the use of diamonds and precious stones, nor to the sphere of costume jewellery, nor even to that of the finery makers who emerged with couturières like Elsa Schiaparelli and Gabrielle Chanel. This is the work of visual artists – painters or sculptors – for whom jewellery is not their usual line of work, and it appeals to a very small circle." Anish Kapoor (b. 1954), "Disc Ring", 2012, 18 carat rose gold, 23 g, edition of 75, in collaboration with Louisa Guinness. Photo: Richard Valencia, courtesy of Louisa Guinness gallery. Highly Active Galleries Aimed at a narrow market of connoisseurs, these creations (unique pieces or signed and numbered limited series) have been boosted by various exhibitions of private collections in institutions, like Diane Venet's at the Palazzo Nani Mocenigo in Venice in 2015, Diana Küppers' at…