Private Commissions

Speckle Netting Necklace

2011

Commissioned by Beth Rudin DeWoody, New York, New York
Medium: Glass beads, silver, thread
Dimensions: Coming Soon :)
Photographer: Courtesy of the artists

Commission Overview
Beth Rudin DeWoody, one of the most celebrated contemporary art collectors of her generation, welcomed us into her Upper East Side apartment in 2011. Her home is legendary, filled from floor to ceiling with works by both emerging voices and the most important artists of our time, yet it feels more like family than formality.

Dog underfoot, newspapers spread across the table, coffee brewing, Beth greets artists in a robe, ready to talk, share, and connect.

During one of our visits, Beth noticed a necklace I was wearing: a speckle netting design William had hand-sewn. “I love it. I want one,” she said. That moment led to her commissioning a necklace of her own.

Artistic Approach
The Speckle Netting Necklace was made from a lattice structure of glass beads, hand-sewn in a seven-bead netting pattern. What makes it unique is the palette: William created it using leftover beads collected over years of projects. He gathers these remnants into jars and then mixes them into spontaneous, unpredictable combinations. The result is a lively surface of shifting color and texture—the origin of what would later become a whole series of “speckle” artworks.

The necklace was finished with one of our handmade silver clasps, continuing the tradition of craft and detail in our jewelry work.

Engagement and Impact
For Beth, commissioning the necklace was about acquiring an artwork AND deepening a relationship. She has long championed artists by bringing their work into her life in direct, personal ways. For us, it was an honor to create something so intimate for someone we consider part of our extended family.

Context and Legacy
The Speckle Netting Necklace is among the earliest works in what became a continuing exploration of speckle forms across media. It reflects how even the most modest beginnings like using leftover beads, can generate whole new directions in our practice. Commissioned by a legendary collector and dear friend, it remains a marker of friendship and artistic evolution.