Repossi/Robert Mapplethorpe: “Black X Cross” Pendant Necklace
As part of an ongoing collaboration with the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Paris jewelry house Repossi has created a collection of fine jewelry inspired by the artist’s own handmade jewelry and his early photography.
Born in 1946 in Queens, New York, Mapplethorpe was raised Catholic. This pendant necklace is influenced by the symbol of the cross and the broader biblical references present in the artist’s jewelry designs and early works. The gold framing around the cross alludes to frames used in Mapplethorpe’s photographs and the black gold “threads” knotting the cross evoke the underground BDSM culture that the artist often featured in his photographs. The pendant can be worn on either side: the plain gold surface suggests a traditional cross, while the burgundy lacquer hints at Robert Mapplethorpe’s more challenging side.
The Gagosian Shop is the exclusive retail partner for sixteen pieces of the Repossi/Robert Mapplethorpe collection during the month of May 2022.
Producer: Repossi
Year: 2022
Medium: Pink gold (18k), black gold (18k), and burgundy lacquer
Dimensions: pendant: 3/4 × 3/4 × 1/4 inches (1.9 × 1.9 × .5 cm); chain length: 16 1/2 inches (42 cm)
