Living my entire fifty-one year existence in New Jersey, frolicking for freshness around the Garden State, I realize there is so much yet to be explored here.

Robert indulged my whim to visit the Newark Museum for the first time, curious to catch their current Kimono Refashioned exhibit. It is a brief but concise assemblage, unfortunately photography was not allowed. Guess I will have to buy the official book, or comb the internet for glimpses to share. On a brighter note, browsing the entire museum, we happened upon the Lore Ross Jewelry Gallery on the second floor of the adjoining Ballantine House. What a find!

The Newark Museum has been collecting jewelry since 1911, and has one of the most comprehensive holdings in the country. Lucky for us to experience such wealth just a car ride away. I was absolutely thrilled! All the images shared here I photographed through their glass enclosures.

The Lore Ross Jewelry Gallery, newly redesigned and reinstalled, showcases jewelry across seven centuries. The focus of the new installation is the wide array of materials, both noble and humble, that have been used over the centuries to create things of beauty for personal adornment.

As the exhibit name describes, the variety of materials are used in unique inspiring combinations, shapes, and assembly. Pearls, precious gems, stone, wood, resin, plastic, and more create the exhibit bursting with color and connection, surface detail and pattern.

Though not gemstones nor pearls, a pebble is the ultimate found object, alluring in size and shape, acquiring value when used inventively as in this pellet necklace.

Heavy details in semi-precious stones and gems with glass patterning illustrate the scope of style with petite-point accuracy as well as colorful classic shaping.

Tortoiseshell was widely used from ancient times in the West and in Asia, until the trade was banned in 1973. Normally in thin slices, manufacture of hand carved items such as this hair comb was expensive but attractive.