Excellent original condition, Swarovski® crystal. Jay Strongwater began his career in 1981 while a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. He started off making jewelry, selling at several of New York’s department stores. Strongwater’s taste for big, bold bijoux was seen on fashion runways, magazine covers, and prominent jewelry counters across the country. The start of home furnishings was a jewel-encrusted picture frame Jay created in 1995 using components from his jewelry collection. “I’m fascinated by the idea of taking our everyday belongings and turning them into a beautiful collage of metal, enamel, and sparkling Swarovski® crystals.” This almost tangible sense comes from the work of the highly skilled artisans in the designer’s New York atelier and production workshop in Rhode Island.