Onyx Bracelet c. 1937

Curator: I'm struck immediately by the graphic nature of this work—almost like a technical drawing but rendered with such delicate washes of color. Editor: You've honed in on its appeal right away. This is Tulita Westfall's "Onyx Bracelet," created around 1937, using watercolor and colored pencil. It offers us a look at jewelry design from the late Art Deco period. Curator: The contrast between the honey-gold elements and the stark, rectangular onyx stones… it feels both elegant and somehow grounded, weighty even on paper. There's something potent about black stone juxtaposed with precious metals. Editor: That visual tension you’re picking up is definitely deliberate. Black onyx has long carried symbolic weight, thought to provide protection and grounding. Consider that in 1937, the world was still reeling from economic depression and edging towards another world war; these perceived properties in jewelry could bring peace to the wearer during uncertainty. Curator: That makes sense. Looking closer, I also notice that even the gold sections seem to be composed of repeated rectangular shapes, echoing the stones themselves. It speaks to a design sensibility deeply rooted in geometric forms, reminiscent of the architecture and design motifs prominent at the time. Editor: Absolutely. And you see these clean, hard-edged forms showing up everywhere during that period—furniture design, skyscrapers. This aesthetic found its way into fashion, which extended to jewellery. Pieces were no longer just adornments; they symbolized modernity, strength and resilience in a world of chaos. Curator: This design reflects a desire for control and order—a very interesting cultural commentary expressed through jewellery. Thinking about where a piece like this might have been worn brings another layer of context. I imagine it adorning women who, although restrained in certain social structures, were making their own place during that era. Editor: Precisely. When you consider the symbolism of onyx coupled with the bold geometric style, this “Onyx Bracelet” is not simply a fashion item. This piece really captures something essential about the 1930s and this particular time. Curator: Thank you for sharing this context; it deepens my appreciation for the artwork, viewing not only its beautiful lines and balance, but also its emotional strength.