Historic NYC Jeweler Woos Younger Audiences With Bold Animal Motifs
Lounging leopard brooch.
Photographer: Noah Kalina/David Webb
Many houses sell animal jewelry, but few styles are as distinct as David Webb’s masterpieces. For more than 65 years, the American jeweler has created a menagerie of creatures big and small using colorful enamel and gemstones. Bold and full of life, each has its own personality: Monkeys grasp diamond rings, golden felines lounge in gemstone collars, and giraffes and zebras arch their neck in stunning bracelets. Even the humble frog shines with golden “warts.”
On Sept. 19, the house’s rich history will be on full display for the first time. The exhibition “ David Webb: A Walk in the Woods” will give visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the world of a Southern gentleman with a big personality and a deep fascination with ancient jewelry.