The JAR Show at the MET

Joel Arthur Rosenthal would prefer that we use our own eyes to look at his creations in person or through the images in his books, rather than ask him too many questions. Working under his initials—JAR—Rosenthal has an appetite to design beautiful jewels and works of art using the natural color of gemstones, pearls, and other unlimited natural materials, set in metals that are sometimes subject to a degree of alchemy. Rosenthal’s pleasure in creating these objects is more complete knowing that the owner feels wonderful when wearing his work.

—From Jewels By Jar Book, 2013

SHEEP’S HEAD BROOCH
Oriental pearls, cabachon star sapphires, blackened silver, and gold. 2006

RING
Pavé-set diamond hoop suspending 54.32-grain natural pearl, 2007, sold for $391,709 on $40-59,000 estimate at Christie’s Geneva (Lily Safra Collection). In 2012, at Christie’s “Jewels for Hope” sale of Lily Safra’s collection, a group of 18 jewelry pieces by JAR fetched $11.4 million, setting a record as the most valuable single-owner collection of JAR’s work ever sold at auction.

EARRINGS
Oriental pearls, emeralds, diamonds, and platinum. 2001

Jewels By JAR at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York features more than 400 works by renowned jewelry designer, Joel A. Rosenthal, who works in Paris under the name JAR.   The exhibition is the first retrospective in the United States of his work and the first retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum devoted to a contemporary artist of gems.

Exhibition Dates: November 20, 2013-March 9, 2014