A jewelry designer and sculptor by trade, German native
Robert Lee Morris has made a name for himself with designs in gold, bronze and
also silver. Crediting the influences of having traveled extensively and being
able to enjoy all that local artisans had to offer, this jewelry designer is
famous for his classic lines with a twist. Several of his pieces feature a
unique 24-carat gold plating that has a stunning matte appearance. He accents
these pieces with patinas of red and green. Yet the road to international
recognition had a few detours along the way.
Morris received his big break when Joan Sonnabend invited
him to exhibit his best pieces at her New
York gallery outpost in 1971. Already well-respected
in the circles of art lovers and sculptors, her attention to Morris’ pieces
brought almost instantaneous critical acclaim to his designs. Bringing his
works to the audience of the Plaza Hotel also resulted in quick recognition of
this jeweler’s talents. From there, the cover of Vogue in 1976 seemed to be a
natural progression for the artisan who liked to push the envelope just a
little bit. The gladiator bubble collar that led to the iconic photo shoot made
Morris a celebrity overnight.
The next stop on the road was the Artwear jewelry gallery in
1977. The first store opened on the Upper East Side,
which was in close proximity to Madison Avenue. Only a year later, the store
relocated to SoHo. During this time, Morris
worked with the who’s who of fashion design. Adding a store on Madison Avenue
itself was a worthwhile coup. An outlet on Germany’s famous shopping street,
the Koenigsallee, did not last long. In fact, Artwear closed its doors altogether
in 1995.
Deciding to focus primarily on his own creations, the
artisan next opened the Robert Lee Morris Gallery on Broadway. In
2011, this company was sold to Haskell Jewels. The next chapter in Morris’
illustrious career was his SoHo line of pieces
that could be purchased via department stores. Retailers also carry the
jeweler’s higher-end pieces. Forsaking the pressure of the outlet store, Morris
is now positioned as an artist rather than a designer. His current collection
of pieces features plenty of hammered gold and patina overlay.
Actively marketing his new creations to an international
audience, the freedom that comes from not operating a storefront has given the
artist plenty of time and resources to create exquisite pieces that are as
unique as they are refined. It is impossible to wear a Morris jewel and not
draw the attention of onlookers. Patina clasps, block bracelets and rose gold
creations are some of the finest collection examples that shoppers note when
looking through the pieces.
Peter Suchy Jewelers is located at 1137 High Ridge Road in
Stamford Connecticut and we invite you to stop by our showroom where you’ll
find a huge collection of vintage and estate jewelry.
If you enjoy browsing and buying estate and vintage jewelry
online, head on over to our eBay store! Please like us on Facebook and add us
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