Image

A light brown neckpiece made of bee wings arranged in a lace pattern. Four connected pieces form delicate scalloped edges, and an outline of a bow hangs from the bottom.

Detail of a piece of lace made of bee wings. The wings form a diamond-shaped pattern, with the outline of a bow extending from the bottom center.

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Luci Jockel

Bee Wing Lace Neckpiece

Now On View

Description

Maker

Luci Jockel (American, b. 1991), (RISD MFA 2016, Jewelry and Metalsmithing)

Title

Bee Wing Lace Neckpiece

Year

2021

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Dimensions

25.4 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8 inches) (approx.)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Museum purchase: gift of Joseph A. Chazan, MD in honor of John W. Smith

Object Number

2021.20.1

Type

Jewelry

Exhibition History

Art and Design from 1900 to Now

Jun 04, 2022 – Sep 01, 2026

Label copy

This neckpiece was made from the wings of honeybees that died of natural causes in RISD’s campus hives. The RISD Museum commissioned this work from Jockel, who uses sustainably sourced animal remains in her jewelry as a way to honor and grieve the loss of our fellow creatures. Her use of bee wings acknowledges the vital importance of bees and somberly reflects on the many threats to bee populations today, including pesticide use and climate change.

The design was inspired by lace in the museum’s collection and the lace collars worn in Dutch portraits in the 1600s.

–Emily Banas, assistant curator of decorative arts and design

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This object is in copyright

Tombstone

Luci Jockel (American, b. 1991)

Bee Wing Lace Neckpiece, 2021

Honey bee wings, PVA glue

25.4 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8 inches) (approx.)

Museum purchase: gift of Joseph A. Chazan, MD in honor of John W. Smith 2021.20.1

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