See more objects with the tag circular, rubber, black.

Object Timeline

1980

  • Work on this object began.

2016

2017

2024

  • You found it!

Gold Makes You Blind (Gold Macht Blind) Bangle Bracelet

This is a Bangle Bracelet. It was designed by Otto Künzli. It is dated Designed: 1980, Executed: 2016 and we acquired it in 2016. Its medium is black rubber over gold. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

In this iconic work, Künzli shrouds a gold ball in a featureless black rubber tube. While criticizing the aura of the precious, he nevertheless acknowledges the power of gold’s allure even when it is invisible, testing the wearer’s faith in the integrity of the artist.

This object was donated by Susan Lewin. It is credited The Susan Grant Lewin Collection, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

  • Bracelet
  • rubber.
  • Museum purchase from Decorative Arts Association Acquisition and Monet....
  • 1989-37-2
  • Bracelet (USA)
  • rubber tubing, gold-plated brass.
  • Museum purchase from Ida McNeil Memorial Fund.
  • 1990-50-1

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 8 × 8.5 × 1.2 cm (3 1/8 × 3 3/8 × 1/2 in.)

It has the following markings

No marks

Cite this object as

Gold Makes You Blind (Gold Macht Blind) Bangle Bracelet; Designed by Otto Künzli (Swiss, b. 1948); black rubber over gold; H x W x D: 8 × 8.5 × 1.2 cm (3 1/8 × 3 3/8 × 1/2 in.); The Susan Grant Lewin Collection, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; 2016-34-63

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Jewelry of Ideas: Gifts from the Susan Grant Lewin Collection.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/554917381/ |title=Gold Makes You Blind (Gold Macht Blind) Bangle Bracelet |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=20 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>