Products |
Sherryl Sachs: Costume Jewelry from her “Gilded Age” collection
By
Published: Jan 31, 2022
Category:
Gifts and Gadgets
Here’s the first paragraph of The Times review: “Julian Fellowes chased his new series, “The Gilded Age,” for a decade. Call it his white whale. On HBO, you can watch it drag him and a large, talented cast beneath the waves.”
On Facebook, the reviews are positive — whatever they think about the scripts, viewers are enchanted with the houses, clothes, and jewelry.
The first two are unaffordable.
Thanks to Sherryl Sachs, the jewelry is shockingly affordable. And very much like the jewelry on the show. When she got a call to work as a Scenic Artist on “The Gilded Age”, she was beyond excited: “Opulence and elegance are two of my favorite words.” As it happens, she collects and sells Victorian jewelry. She pitched her collection to the Costume Department… and sold part of it to the show. The rest: available in her shop on Etsy. [To view her collection and buy it, go to Etsy, and, on the left, click on “Victoriana.”
How did this Scenic Artist come to collect Victorian jewelry? Here’s her story:
I grew up watching my father at his drawing table as he sketched and inked Superman, Batman, and the entire Justice League for National Periodicals, i.e. DC Comics, so I knew from an early age I would become an artist. For the last 30 years I have worked as a Scenic Artist, painting scenery for theatre, film, and television.
In my 20s, I began to collect antiques —- fine silk embroidered textiles, Asian sculpture, paintings, prints, Limoges porcelain collectible boxes, art glass vases, and antique costumes — and sell them. Every show has lay-offs; when a job ended, I joyfully took off on antiquing trips.
In my 40’s, I became friends with the mother of a high school friend. Cecille was a serious fashionista who collected vintage and antique jewelry. She showed me the difference between real costume jewelry and the clutter found in the closets of my mother and grandmother. Most importantly, she introduced me to Victorian jewelry, which is fascinating in its design, history, and unique beauty. I was understandably captivated. Upon Cecille’s unexpected passing, her family entrusted her library of jewelry and fashion books to me. In addition, I was asked to sell her jewelry collection. It was an interesting experience to find “good homes” for pieces Cecille loved.
The pandemic hit within days of my sale of part of the collection to the “Gilded Age” costumers. During the lockdown, I added more pieces. Now feels like the right time for them to find new homes.
