Press release from the Karpeles Museum:
Don’t miss the Bentz collection in the Lower Gallery of the Karpeles Museum. 3039 Piqua Ave. Fort Wayne, IN 46806. A reception will be held October 3 from noon to 4 PM. The collection showing will be for entire month of October, 2009
Robert Bentz is a local artist and instructor that is noted for his one of a kind jewelry creations which draw inspiration from a variety of cultures. He is also an accomplished sketch and watercolor artist that has spent many years behind the lens of a camera and in front of the canvas documenting the nation’s ever changing countryside.
In addition to landscape drawings, Bob has a fantastic collection of one of a kind jewelry that will only be shown during his reception.
He made this piece about 10 years ago as part of a set. It is one of his Egyptian pieces made from an alloy of 50/50 silver/copper which gives it it’s deep, dark, “antique” look. Today’s alloy is a 60/40 silver/copper mix which accounts for its “bright” or more “yellow” look.
The Egyptians used the 50/50 mix because Eygpt was short on silver and long on gold and copper, which they valued equally. If you wanted to impress the Pharoah you would have given him a silver piece as he already had more gold then he knew what to do with. The scarab was revered by the Egyptians and it was a symbol of eternal life.
Many years ago Native Americans set about creating jewelry out of silver coins. Bob’s second generation necklaces are quite remarkable. Each round bead is crafted from a single silver disk.
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