Alphonse La Paglia
Alphonse La Paglia was an Italian-American silversmith and jewelry designer who is best known for his modernist designs that were popular in the mid-20th century. La Paglia was born in Italy in 1907 and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was a child.
La Paglia began his career as a silversmith and worked for several prominent silver companies, including Georg Jensen and Reed & Barton. In the 1940s, he opened his own workshop in New York City, where he began to create his own designs.
La Paglia's jewelry designs were characterized by their sleek, modernist shapes and use of silver and other metals. He was particularly known for his use of the "caviar" technique, which involved hand-hammering a surface to create a texture that resembled caviar or fish eggs.
La Paglia's designs were popular among the fashion-forward set of the time and were worn by celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly. Today, his pieces are highly sought after by collectors and are considered iconic examples of mid-century modernist design.
La Paglia passed away in 1953 at the age of 46, but his legacy as a master silversmith and jewelry designer continues to inspire new generations of artists and designers.
La Paglia began his career as a silversmith and worked for several prominent silver companies, including Georg Jensen and Reed & Barton. In the 1940s, he opened his own workshop in New York City, where he began to create his own designs.
La Paglia's jewelry designs were characterized by their sleek, modernist shapes and use of silver and other metals. He was particularly known for his use of the "caviar" technique, which involved hand-hammering a surface to create a texture that resembled caviar or fish eggs.
La Paglia's designs were popular among the fashion-forward set of the time and were worn by celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly. Today, his pieces are highly sought after by collectors and are considered iconic examples of mid-century modernist design.
La Paglia passed away in 1953 at the age of 46, but his legacy as a master silversmith and jewelry designer continues to inspire new generations of artists and designers.