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JEWELRY
OBJETS D’ART
DRAWINGS
SCULPTURES
PRESS
CV
COMMISSIONS
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Jewelry designed by Laurence De Vries is unmistakably powerful. The fullest expression of this is found in his pins, which is where each collection takes shape. He draws from a rich visual vocabulary of symbols drawn from astronomy, antiquity, mythology, military pageantry and royalty, and reimagines them into bold, protective shields and personal talismans for the modern day wearer.
De Vries moved from his native Paris to the United States in 1974 and by the following year was represented by some of New York’s leading galleries including Aaron Faber Gallery and Sculpture to Wear. When Robert Lee Morris opened Artwear in the late 70s – a movement, which put wearable art at the center of fashion – De Vries was one of the featured jewelry designers and this groundbreaking venue propelled his career for more than decade.
From 1975 to 2000, the jewelry of Laurence De Vries was crafted primarily in brushed textured sterling silver with 18 kt. gold accents. Drawn to gemstones with a rich storied past, De Vries inlayed his pieces with black coral, red coral, white coral, black onyx, mother of pearl, ebony, African amber and antique tortoise shell recovered from Victorian artifacts. In the late 1990s, De Vries forged a new direction in his collections; the assertiveness in design remained, but a shift in scale emerged as he began working in 18 kt. gold, precious gemstones and 22 kt. gold accented with diamonds.
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BRACELET & PIN
SILVER, 18KT. GOLD, RED,
BLACK, & WHITE CORAL
1980
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2006 De Vries Studios
BRACELETS & PINS
SILVER & 18KT GOLD VICTORIAN
ANTIQUE TORTOISE
SHELL INLAID 1990
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2006 De Vries Studios
BRACELETS & PINS
SILVER & 18KT GOLD VICTORIAN
ANTIQUE TORTOISE
SHELL INLAID 1990
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2006 De Vries Studios
SILVER, 18 KT GOLD, MOTHER OF PEARL, BLUE ONYX, VICTORIAN
ANTIQUE TORTOISE SHELL & BLACK ONYX
1993
PINS
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22 KT GOLD, PRECIOUS &SEMI PRECIOUS STONES
2002
NECKLACE, PENDANTS & EARRINGS
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PENDANTS EARRINGS
18 KT GOLD DIAMONDS &
PRECIOUSSTONES
1996
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PINS
MOTHER OF PEARL 18 KT GOLD RUBY, EMERALD & DIAMOND
1980
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PIN
WHITEYELLOWROSE &GREEN18 KT GOLD DIAMONDS &EMERALD 1999
PIN
18 KT GOLD AMETHYST 1999
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PENDANT & RING
18 KT GOLD EMERALDS, RUBIES & DIAMONDS
1986
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Influenced by a love for astronomy and the laws of physic, sculptures were initially abstract and kinetic. Over time, De Vries’ interest in history and mythology emerged in figurative sculptures of legendary leaders and triumphant warrior men and women.
Produced from 1980 to 2005, the materials included clay, mixed media, marble and bronze. Size and scale varied from twenty inches to life-size busts.
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GALAXY
EBONYGRANITE
CRYSTALMARBLES
GOLD LEAFGRANITE
BASE1985
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ASTROPHYSICS
STERLING SILVER
18 KT GOLDBELGIUM
BLACK MARBLE25” HIGH
1986
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THE WARRIORS
ANTIQUE IVORYCRYSTAL & PETRIFIED TUSK
STERLING SILVER & 18 KT GOLDBLACK MARBLE
18” HIGH1986
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VICTORY
CARVED ANTIQUE IVORY
STERLING SILVER
18 KT GOLDEBONY BASE
8” HIGH1987
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THE VENETIAN
CARVED ALABASTER LATER BRONZESILVER, 18 KT GOLD HAT PIN
LIFE SIZE1992
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MAKEDA
CARVED ALABASTER STEEL, BRASS
SILVER EARRINGSLIFE SIZE
1992
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THE PRINCE (INSPIRED BY N. MACHIAVELLI NOVEL)
TERRA COTTALIFE SIZE
2003
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LE PETIT PRINCE (INSPIRED BY ANTOINE DE
ST. EXUPERY NOVEL)
TERRA COTTALIFE SIZE
2003
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SIDDHARTHA(INSPIRED BY HERMAN HESS NOVEL)
TERRA COTTALIFE SIZE
2003
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SIDDHARTHA(INSPIRED BY
HERMAN HESS NOVEL)
BRONZELIFE SIZE
2003
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The objets d’art are natural extensions of the creative process found in the jewelry of Laurence De Vries. Signature design motifs and materials turn familiar objects like hair combs, letter openers, perfume bottles and walking sticks into extraordinary jewels of another kind.
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WALKING STICKS
EBONY ROSEWOOD
RATTAN SILVER
18 KT GOLD ANTIQUE IVORY
CINNABAR1980
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DESK OBJECT
WALRUS TUSK SILVER
18 KT GOLD ANTIQUE
TORTOISE SHELL1990
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PERFUME BOTTLES
COBALT BLUE GLASSSILVER
GOLD ETCHEDRUBY1986
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MATCH BOX
EBONYANTIQUE IVORY&
RED CORALSILVER
18 KT GOLD1983
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MATCH BOX
EBONYANTIQUE IVORY&
RED CORALSILVER
18 KT GOLD1983
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The pencil and ink drawings span 1982-2006. Inspiration came from many sources, some historic, others more personal and interpretative.
De Vries became more prolific in this medium when he moved to Australia in 2000. The dramatic change in scenery set his past twenty-five years in New York City into sharp focus and he found himself exploring beauty, fashion and elegance in his drawings.
Extended visits to Mexico and a growing fascination into its history led to a series of drawings on the legendary conqueror Cortez.
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Throughout his career, Laurence De Vries has been sought by international companies and private individuals for a range of prestigious commissioned works in different areas of design.
From the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, Cartier commissioned De Vries to create silver jewelry collections and objets d’art. He was the only independent designer in New York City to have such an exclusive relationship with the House of Cartier. All his works are dated, signed by De Vries and bear the Cartier mark.
Mikimoto hired the designer to create jewelry boxes and the Sultan of Brunei came to De Vries for a custom set of tobacco boxes. For costume jewelry companies Trifari and Monet, he designed private label collections.
The Atlantean Group, an architectural firm, commissioned furniture, lamps and desk accessories. For Paradigm Inc, a communications company, De Vries rendered their corporate logo into a three-dimensional sculpture for their boardroom.
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SULTAN OF BRUNEI COMMISSIONASSORTED TOBACCO BOX ES IN
ONYX, BRUSHED SILVER & 18 KT GOLD ON MARBLE STAND
1987
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PARADIGM COMMISSION3 DIMENSIONAL DEPICTION OF THE
CORPORATE LOGO IN SILVER & ALUMINUM ON A GRANITE BASE
5’ HIGH1996
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CARTIER COMMISSIONWALKING STICKS IN EXOTIC WOODS
WITH AMBER, ANTIQUE IVORY, VICTORIAN ANTIQUE TORTOISE
SHELL, SILVER, & 18 KT GOLD DETAILS1980
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CARTIER COMMISSIONBRACELET IN SILVER WITH RED
CORAL & 18 KT GOLD DETAILPIN IN SILVER WITHBLACK, RED AND
WHITE CORAL 1980
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CARTIER COMMISSIONDESIGN FOR PIN &
DECK OF PLAYING CARDS1980 - 1983
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MIKIMOTO COMMISSIONJEWELRY BOX CONCEPT IN
SILVER, 18 KT GOLD & ANTIQUE VICTORIAN TORTOISE SHELL INLAID
1987
LAURENCE DE VRIES
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MAXFIELD COMMISSIONNECKLACE IN BLACK, GREEN &
RED ONYX INLAID18 KT GOLD
1985
LAURENCE DE VRIES
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TRIFARI COMMISSIONAESTHETIC & TECHNICAL DRAWINGS FOR
NECKLACE, PIN & BRACELET1986
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TRIFARI COMMISSIONAESTHETIC & TECHNICAL DRAWINGS FOR
EARRINGS, PIN & BRACELET1986
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ATLANTEAN COMMISSIONFLOWER VASES 5 FT HIGH
STEEL, BRONZE & ENAMEL INLAID WITH MARBLE BASE
1985
LAURENCE DE VRIES
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ATLANTEAN COMMISSIONCHAIR & ARMCHAIR IN
LACQUERED WOOD & LEATHER1985
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LAURENCE DE VRIES
1967 Studied law and architecture1968 Antique dealer of medieval weapons and
scientific instruments1969 Traveled from Paris to Burma
(Greece, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India & Nepal)
1971 Designer and model maker for Parisian Haute Couture firm specializing in accessories
1972 Set up studio in Paris. Created art jewelry, Objets d’art and architectural sculptures
1974 Moved to the United States1975 Established business in New York City
ShowsAaron Faber Gallery, New YorkSculpture to Wear, New YorkWiener Gallery, New York
1979 Designed and produced jewelry collections & Objets d’art for CARTIER Inc., New York. Continued the relationship until 1985
1980 Started partnership with Sandro Rumney, grandson of Peggy Guggenheim.Opened Heliogabale (Fine Art Gallery 68th/Madison, New York) showing personal creations, contemporary jewelry designers and 20th century painters including Dali, Miro & Kandinski.
1980s Shows - One ManAaron Faber Gallery, New York,1983Artwear/Robert Lee Morris, New York, 1983Maxfield, Los Angeles, 1983Works Gallery, New York, 1984Works Gallery, New York, 1987Lynne Deutch, Los Angeles, 1987LS Collection, New York, 1989
1990 Shows - One ManArtwear/Robert Lee Morris, New YorkStanley Korshak, Dallas
1991 Established Laurence De Vries Studio, Inc. Show - One Man
Bergdorf Goodman, New York
1993 Began creating marble figurative sculptures1996 Created bronze figurative sculptures1999 Show - One Man
Jane Smith Gallery, Santa Fe NM
2000 Moved to Australia. Established studio until 2005. Created and produced series of figurative bronze and terra cotta sculptures
2002 Developed series of drawings and collages2005 Designed and produced 22 KT gold and
precious stones jewelry
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LAURENCE DE VRIES
PUBLICITYUSAccent – Allure – Elle – Essence –Glamour – Harper’s Bazaar – Lear’s –Marie Claire – Metropolis – MCI –Mirabella –- New York Magazine – New York Times – Playboy – Revlon – Self –Taxi – Vogue – Vogue Décor – Women’s Wear DailyINTERNATIONALArchitektur Wohen (Germany) – Axis (Japan) – Moda (Italy) – Vogue (Italy) –Grazia (Italy)
INTERVIEWSTV Special France/Amerique – “L’Art a New York” 1995
LECTURESParson’s School of Design, New York, 1989Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, 1996 – 2004
EXTRA STUDIESNew York Academy of Art - classical human anatomy drawings & sculpture
PRIVATE COLLECTORSArmand Hammer – Duke & Duchess of York – Sir Elton John – Sir Mick Jagger –Janet Jackson – Carly Simon – John Lithgow – Motley Crue – Jane Pauly –Geoffrey Beene – Robert Lee Morris – Miss Grace Mirabella – Nile Rogers – Wes Craven
CLIENTS24 Collection, FL – Aaron Farber Gallery, NY – Albright-Knox Art Gallery, NY –
Angela, CA – Aronstam, DC –Artwear/Robert Lee Morris, NY – Bergdorf Goodman, NY – Body Art, CO – Cartier, NY – Collage, CA – The Elements IL – Etc, AL – Giles & Lewis, NY – Harriet Kassman, DC – Ice, CA – IF Boutique, NY – Jet Gallery, NM – The LS Collection, NY –Lynne Deutch Ltd, CA – Maxfield, CA –Metier, CA – Nancy Yaw Gallery, MA –Quadrum Gallery, MA – Sculpture to wear, NY – Select Art, TX – Spirit, NM – Stanley Korshak, TX – Susan of Berlingane, CA –Theodore, CA – Thrapp, IN – Ultimo, IL –Weinstein, LA – Works Gallery, NY
Costa, Turino (Italy) – Les Artisans,St Bart (Caribbean) – Rock Shop, Sydney (Australia) – Vendome, Tokyo (Japan)
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LAURENCE DE VRIES
JewelrySilver, 18KT, 22KT, 24KT Gold, Platinum
Objets d’ArtDecorative works of artSymbolic statementsFunctional WorksHollow & FlatwareDesk ObjectsTrophiesMixed media, Precious Materials
SculptureAbstract and FigurativeOne of a kind and Limited EditionsStone, Marble, Bronze, Aluminum, Steel, Fiberglass Mixed Media, Precious Metals
DrawingsAbstract and FigurativeArtistic, Industrial, Textile and Illustration
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
COMMISSIONSCONCEPT/DESIGN/PROTOTYPE/COLLECTIONS FOR:
CONSULTING & LECTURES
COLLECTOR & CORPORATE CLIENTS
PRICING AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
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An editor once called the work of Laurence De Vries “antiques from the future.”
The transcendent quality of his work is not surprising given the artist’s fluid relationship to time and place. The past is very much alive in his works, with echoes of Art Deco, the Renaissance, the French Empire and stretching back to ancient Rome and Babylon. But he is equally influenced by his here and now – the skyscrapers of New York or the majesty of Australia, where he lived for five years.
Yet, his ultimate source of inspiration has been women. “I admire their intellect, beauty, friendship, guidance and warmth,” says De Vries.
Photography by Andy Unangt and Douglas Whyte © 1975 - 2006
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THE ARTIST
www.devriestudios.com
646.319.9646
Photography by Andy Unangt and Douglas Whyte © 1975 - 2006