Virginia V. Blakeney

American, 1878 - 1963

(not assigned)Montgomery, Ohio

SchoolArt Nouveau; Art Deco

Biography"Virginia Blakeney was a generous benefactor of the Dayton Art Institute. She designed jewelry and executed her work with tools she made herself. She lived in Dayton for most of her life except that she studied jewelry-making in France and Belgium for a short time." (Source: Wall label, The Dayton Art Institute, c. 1976, copy in file)
"She produced designs for Tiffany's and created jewelry for many affluent Dayton families, often fabricating it in her own studio with tools she made herself. (Source: Walt McCaslin, "DAI showing jewelry designs," The Dayton Journal Herald, 1976)

DAYTON JEWELRY:
DESIGNS BY VIRGINIA BLAKENEY (shown in conjunction with "Maker and Muse" October 25, 2019 - January 19, 2020)

Virginia V. Blakeney (American, 1878–1963) was an accomplished jewelry designer who lived in Dayton. After studying jewelry-making in France and Belgium, she produced designs for Louis Comfort Tiffany at the turn-of-the century, as well as for many of Dayton’s affluent families.

Like the jewelry and designers highlighted in Maker & Muse, Blakeney’s designs were counter to industrialism and mass production. She embraced the Art Nouveau style with its curvilinear lines and asymmetrical motifs drawn from the natural world. Using glass, enamel, and colored gemstones such as opals, tourmalines, moonstones and sapphires, Blakeney crafted jewelry with tools she made.

Blakeney was a generous benefactor of the Dayton Art Institute, creating an endowment for the museum in honor of her parents. The works on view here are part of the DAI’s collection, gifted by Blakeney and her relatives.

Forged from Nature
Jewelry Designs by Virginia Blakeney
February 28 2014 - July 6 2014

Virginia V. Blakeney (America, 1878–1963) was a generous benefactor of The Dayton Art Institute and a noted jewelry designer who produced designs for Tiffany at the turn of the 20th century. Although Blakeney studied jewelry-making in France and Belgium, she lived in Dayton for most of her life and created hand-crafted jewelry for many affluent Dayton families with tools she made herself. Her inspiration sprung from the natural world, and The Dayton Art Institute is proud to present a select grouping of her watercolor designs and jewelry from its permanent collection.
How To Go
Forge from Nature: Jewelry Designs by Virginia Blakeney
On View: February 28 - July 6, 2014
Location: South Gallery, Lower Level
Cost: Admission to the exhibition is included in the museum's suggested general admission

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