A leader among Bay Area jewelers, Margaret De Patta explored structure and materials in her work, creating kinetic forms with contrasting textures and incorporating less expensive materials, including found objects. Philosophically committed to making jewelry for all price points, she designed a line of pieces, including this biomorphic pin with a quartz crystal, that could be economically produced and sold in museum and specialty stores. Even so, one-of-a-kind handmade pieces remained her focus.
(California Design, 1930–1965: "Living in a Modern Way," 2011-12)
