FPJR03 Vintage Frank Patania Jr. 14kt gold, sterling silver and faceted beryl “Isla Flotante” bracelet, circa mid-‘60s
Origin: Tucson, AZ
Dimensions: 5” end to end plus .75” gap; .88” wide at center stone tapering to .25” at terminal ends; stone 22mm x 15mm; 58.4 gm
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: Consignment – From the personal collection of Sam Patania’s mother, Gail.
Price: $6,800.00

Ethereal cuff of 14K green gold set with a huge pale green beryl stone of oceanic beauty. Beryl of this hue was once held to be a stone of protection, healing and purification, attuning to higher levels of awareness. Frank Jr's ingenious double ringed design uses sophisticated architectural technique to construct an inner arc like a bridge, surrounding the stone with light to enable its facets to flash magically. Made for the artist's wife in the mid-1960's, this seminal work departs audaciously from the long-established Patania Sr. style to mark one of Frank Jr.'s first forays into Modernism. Within a few years, Frank Jr. was hailed as a Modernist master, his groundbreaking talent acknowledged in Philip Morton's Contemporary Jewelry: A Studio Handbook, one of the era's most important books on design, technique and the standards of craftsmanship. The cuff's extraordinary alloy of gold and silver (called green gold) was chosen especially to complement the beryl and sterling silver, making this one of Frank Jr's few works in gold. Because the piece was meant for personal enjoyment rather than for re-sale, the 14K gold content is unmarked. It is signed with Frank Jr.’s personal hallmark, the FP with a cross on the stem of the P. The Patania family will gladly provide written provenance. A cherished Patania family heirloom of refined and celestial beauty, this piece represents a turning point for the artist and is a must for the serious collector.