October 14-20, 2004
mixpicks
David and Sybil Yurman
  |
|
In the universe of fine jewelry, David Yurman and his iconic initial design of 1983 -- the slowly twisted helix of sterling silver and 18 karat gold that became his signature cable bracelet -- was revolutionary, as newly defining and starkly shocking to that world as Mapplethorpe’s snaps were to the photographic arts. Perhaps the weightiness of that design comes from the fact both David and his wife, Sybil, had long been respected sculptors and painters before knitting tones into a muscle of metal. Whether bare, encrusted with diamond and precious stones, or turned into equally formidable watches, its musculature was always noted for its strength and even primal sensuality. Since that time, the Manhattan-based design firm has not only extended itself into leaner looks and rings and things but taken on the exclusively foreign watchmaker business full throttle, establishing itself into the ticking heart of watch country, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, with its Thoroughbred Collection in 1999. Still, much of the multimillion-dollar firm -- and David and Sybil’s concern -- is devoted to teaching the ancient crafts of metallurgy. So the Yurmans will bring their skill sets to Drexel courtesy of Philly’s Govberg Jewelers and Emil De John, director of fashion career development at the College of Media Arts and Design. They’ll lecture not only to students but to entrepreneurs and anyone else who just likes to stare at really beautiful jewels for a really long time.
David and Sybil Yurman, Tue., Oct. 19, 5 p.m., call for price, Nesbitt Hall, Stein Auditorium, 33rd and Market sts., 215-895-2071.
-- Respond to this article in our Forums -- click to jump there
