Dana J. Lorberg brings 35 years of experience in finance, technology, and strategy to the role.
Boston’s MFA Acquires René Boivin Starfish Brooch
Purchased from Lee Siegelson, the gold, ruby and amethyst jewel tells a fascinating story of several women.
Boston—The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is well known among jewelry lovers for its curation and collections, and the museum is reminding us exactly why with a recent acquisition.
The MFA recently acquired a gold, ruby and amethyst starfish brooch made in 1937 by Parisian house René Boivin. The piece, purchased from gem and jewelry dealer Lee Siegelson, is iconic not only for its workmanship and rarity but also because it
The jewel was actually created under Jeanne Boivin, who took over her husband’s namesake company after his death in 1917, making her the first woman to direct a French jewelry house.
She insisted on being known professionally as Madame René Boivin, according to the museum, and worked with jewelry designers Juliette Moutard and Suzanne Belperron to establish jewelry’s avant-garde side.
Moutard designed the starfish brooch for René Boivin in 1935.
The piece features 71 cabochon rubies, faceted amethysts and 18-karat gold, and is fully articulated on each arm to allow the piece lifelike movement that mimics a starfish crawling along. It is also the same size as a real starfish.
French-born, American-raised Broadway and film actress Claudette Colbert bought the brooch from Boivin in 1937, two years after she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “It Happened One Night.”
As Hollywood’s highest-paid actress at the time, her sartorial choices—including pinning the Boivin starfish brooch to a coat shoulder or dress collar—were closely followed by both film and fashion publications, as seen in the inset photo.
The piece acquired by the MFA is the first of four known ruby-and-amethyst versions produced under Boivin and Moutard’s direction, according to the museum.
The starfish are also the subject of a 2018 book, “Diving for Starfish: The Jeweler, the Actress, the Heiress, and One of the World's Most Alluring Pieces of Jewelry” by Cherie Burns, chronicling the story of the pieces and the women who wore them.
“We’re thrilled to acquire one of the most important jewels that the house René Boivin ever produced,” said Emily Stoehrer, the MFA’s Rita J. Kaplan and Susan B. Kaplan Curator of Jewelry. “This brooch tells a fascinating story of design in the early 20th century, including the central role played by women designers such as Juliette Moutard.”
The Latest
The suspects are said to have been involved in the armed robberies of four jewelry stores across three Midwest states.
The new designs blend Creative Director Reed Krakoff’s aesthetic with the brand’s Balinese roots.
From protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
The Dallas-based jeweler will showcase timepieces from Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Parmigiani Fleurier, and more.
The artwork, titled “Pristine,” was raffled off at the Canadian Jewellers Association’s recent summit.
The new store features a custom design studio and a bridal salon.
This fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
Designer Rosanne Karmes has created a collection to coincide with the release of the movie musical, which is expected to be a blockbuster.
The retailer said it will file the necessary paperwork to regain compliance as soon as it is able.
Whether you’re calming the jittery gentleman in seat 13B or selling a diamond ring to a hesitant customer, an empathetic approach is best.
The gala includes a red carpet, music from DJ Renata, an awards program, and “mystery boxes.”
The trade show, in its third year, will take place in late September at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
The jeweler shared her change of heart on lab-grown diamonds and why she keeps them separate from natural diamonds in her business ventures.
The 2025 Gem Awards are scheduled to take place March 14 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
Grosz had served as Assael’s senior vice president and creative director since 2017.
“Love and Celebration” is the jeweler’s first in-house collection featuring engagement rings, wedding bands, and celebration rings.
A more positive view of the labor market contributed to the strongest monthly gain since March 2021.
The funds will be distributed to schools in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Jennifer Mulvihill, the first woman to lead JSA in the organization’s 141-year history, takes over for the retiring John Kennedy.
This year’s festivities include more than 100 experiences, such as designer showcases, panel discussions, and even a treasure hunt.
The GMT-Master “Pepsi” that belonged to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is one of two Apollo-flown Rolex watches ever sold at auction.
The ads star brand ambassadors Chloe and Halle Bailey and Pamela Anderson.
The company combined two sights in Q3 due to the slowdown in demand, and said it is moving up the dates for sights 9 and 10 in Q4.
The jewelry designer discussed how she got into the jewelry industry, what she keeps in her favorite locket, and the future of her brand.
Participants can buy five votes for $5 to decide which jeweler will dress up as an ‘80s rockstar for Halloween.
Starboard Luxury is bringing the Italian brand aboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s newest yacht.