Rachel Gera Vintage Modernist Jewelry

Born in 1936 in Neve Tzedek of Jaffa, Rachel Gera is a renowned Israeli artist and designer of unique jewelry. Fist, she entered the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem in 1958. Then, from 1960 to 1962 she studied in the newly opened Oranim Academic College. Besides, she went on to perfect her skills at the Open University of New York. However, according to Rachel herself, her greatest influence was studying with the legendary Marcel Janco who founded the Ein Hod artists’ village near Haifa in the early 1950s.

Finally, Rachel and her husband Eli settled in the artists’ quarter of old Jaffa in 1965, at 11 Nativ Mazalot Street. The young designers made unique jewelry that amazed the public with its shape and enormous size. In essence, it was wearable art made of silver, intended for both women and men.

Balancing on the dangerous edge of outrageous art, Gera always boldly went ahead of time, declaring her views and tastes. Thus, she regularly organized shows, presentations, and exhibited in the best galleries of the world. In fact, Gera never limited herself to jewelry. Among her interests were clothing and shoe design, carpets, painting, monumental sculpture, theater direction and even acting. Numerous diplomas, prizes, and newspaper articles confirm this.

Israeli artist Rachel Gera Vintage Modernist Jewelry

Gera settled in New York (naturally, in the artists’ quarter) in the late 1970s, and things went well right away. Influential friends appeared, newspapers and magazines began to write about her, and she became a welcome guest at celebrity parties. Having lived in America for six years, she returned to Jaffa.

The list of the fans of her jewelry includes presidents and kings, great singers, actors, writers, politicians, journalists, and scientists. In particular, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Ustinov, Salvatore Adamo, Maya Plisetskaya, Nina Simone, Danny Kaye, Sir Isaac Wolfson, Marcel Marceau, and Leonard Bernstein.

Rachel Gera Vintage Modernist Jewelry