Private Commissions

Glass Cuff

2005

Commissioned by Bee Ladd, Brooklyn, New York
Medium: Glass beads, metal, thread
Dimensions: approx. 7 1/8 x 2 3/4 x 1/4 in.
Photograph: Courtesy of the artists
Artists’ Registration Number: 2005.046.001

Commission Overview
In 2005, our sister Bee commissioned one of William’s early glass bead cuffs. At the time, she was steadily supporting our practice by commissioning works and accessories while working full-time in New York. These commissions were essential, helping us pay bills and sustain our early studio life.

Artistic Approach
The cuff was woven on one of William’s handmade looms, which by this point he had begun building himself to better control scale and structure. The design features diagonal stripe motifs in metallic purple, lavender, and white glass beads. Each end of the cuff was finished with small beaded carriers stitched into a tubular slide-lock clasp, providing both strength and wearability. The work was stitched with white Nemo thread, a material William often relied on in these early loomed pieces.

One detail of making these cuffs was the sheer intensity of bead counting. Every stripe required careful calculation, bead by bead, to achieve the precise patterns. At one point, while planning our future, Steven asked William for more feedback, only to be reminded: “You know I’m counting, right?” The memory underscores the concentration and devotion that went into works like this.

Engagement and Impact
For Bee, the cuff was a personal and wearable artwork, one of many she commissioned during these years. For us, it was another example of how family sustained us when resources were scarce, offering both financial and emotional support.

Context and Legacy
The Glass Cuff belongs to William’s early body of loomed beadwork, where straight sides and blunt ends reflected the natural structure of the loom. The diagonal stripe became a recurring motif in his geometric language, laying groundwork for more complex patterns in later ties, necklaces, and cuffs. Bee’s role as a consistent commissioner reminds us how family was woven directly into the foundation of our practice.