Mardi Jo Cohen Handmade Sterling Silver, Formica, & Glass Cabochon Memphis Design Serving Fork & Spoon Featuring Open Geometric Pattern

Entirely handmade and signed sterling silver serving fork & spoon by Mardi Jo Cohen circa 1999.

The serving fork has a blue glass cabochon and inlaid handle with formica and the pierced serving spoon has blue glass cabochon inserts.

These incredibly unique pieces of Memphis design are bold and geometric, perfect for an eclectic home as the Memphis style has seen a drastic rise in popularity in the last couple of years.

Mardi Jo Cohen was born in 1959, and began producing diverse pieces in the 1980’s.

Her works have been displayed in many distinguished galleries and museums, exclusively exhibited in the United States. In 1986, she participated in her first verified exhibition at CAC (Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center) in Ohio as part of the group show “Surface and Ornament,” amongst works from various artists such as James Wines and Thomas Gentille. Other notable museums that exhibit her works are the Yale University Collection, the National Museum of American Jewish History, and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.

Many of Mardi Jo Cohen’s works, primarily in the form of serving utensils and very rarely jewelry, are in the style of the Memphis design movement.

The style of Memphis design was a movement that was introduced in 1981 by Ettore Sottsass, an Italian designer and architect. The name “Memphis” refers to a group of artists and designers founded by Sottsass, which upon their first meeting in December 1980, played “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again” by Bob Dylan on repeat, hence the group naming themselves “The Memphis Group” (also referred to as Memphis Milano), inspired by the song. The group had another meeting three months later in February 1981 in which members brought over 100 drawings of colorful vivid designs inspired by a variety of striking stylistic influences such as Art Deco, Pop Art, and 1950’s Kitsch. The Memphis Group combined these influences in a distinct Postmodern style to create bold ceramics, fabrics, furniture, glass, patterns, as well as several other art forms. Eventually, the group disbanded in 1987, but their goal of creating a new design collective to change the concept of Modernism as the predominant focus of design at the time, was a major success and this style has gone on to influence many great artists of different media.

Designer: Mardi Jo Cohen

Maker: Mardi Jo Cohen

Circa: 1999

Dimensions: 9” L

Country of Origin: USA

INV. #: C133H