Collectors Corner
Chris Den Blaker - Rare Hand Forged Aluminum Disc Pendant (circa 1970's)
Chris Den Blaker - Rare Hand Forged Aluminum Disc Pendant (circa 1970's)
American, signed, Aluminum hollowware, silk cord
19.5” length x 4.5” diameter
Chris Den Blaker (also known as Christopher Den Blaker) was an American artisan and jeweler from New York City who was active in the 1970’s and 80’s, known for his sculptural aluminum statement jewelry and wearable art. He is most known for his collaboration with the famous fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, in which they designed and created evening dresses which featured integrated, hand-signed, rigid aluminum chokers and shoulder attachments made by Den Blaker. Examples of these rare garments are held in museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.
Later in his career, Den Blaker also took on custom ecclesiastical and civic commissions. Of notable example which connects his work to Atlantic Canada is a silver-plated Mace of Convocation for the University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which was presented in 1984.



