The inspiring story behind the Matilija Poppy Project
By Tina Snyder
It was during a visit to the Newark Museum when metalsmith Tom Herman and enamelist Patsy Croft first held a piece of jewelry that would change their lives forever: The Ada Brooch, a plique-à-jour masterpiece crafted by Marcus and Co. in 1904.
“As makers, Tom and I became obsessed with the construction of this piece,” says Croft. “We were captivated by all the details—from how languidly it moved to its unbelievable integrity and apparently stress-free structure, for going on a century.”