, presented by antique dealer Siegelson at the Masterpiece Fair in 2017, was made by Afro-Caribbean jeweller Art Smith in 1948.
Terry Castro, the designer and jeweller behind Castro NYC, believes the problem is not a lack of talented black jewellers, but rather their lack of recognition, whether through ignorance or prejudice, by the media, by stores and by clients themselves. “Whether it’s conscious or sub-conscious, it all works together to reduce our visibility,” says the African-American jeweller, who lives in Istanbul.
She herself has built a brand that champions sustainability, diversity and artisanal craft “to lift up those who are marginalised”. She is also a founder, alongside Yale University and Management for Leadership Tomorrow, of a career advancement programme that provides minority professionals with networking and mentoring opportunities. “I believe that initiatives like these are crucial for the future of the industry,” she says.