Designer: Robert McKeown (1931 – 1989)

Item:  Tellurian Jewelry Box

Manufactured by: Robert McKeown

Country of origin: United States

Year made: 1985

Materials: Wood with resin inlays, suede leather

Dimensions: 3 ¼” x 9 ¼” x 8 ¾” 

Condition: Very Good. The back edge of the lid where the internal wood hinge is located there appears to be a horizontal crack the length of the lid above the hinge as shown. The lid is very slightly off square from the box, as can be seen and which could be the result of that crack, or not. We can’t be sure and we are unsure if that crack was a natural flaw in the wood that was used or a later crack that developed. But it does not appear to be glued or repaired. Regardless, this is a very scarcely found object, but we conservatively priced it based on this issue.

Description: Here is another one of McKeown’s very largest and rarest box designs.  This is the scarcely found Tellurian box design with two interior levels, and an interior sliding compartment for rings or earrings.  The bottom of interior is lined with suede.  The underside bears the correct impressed artist’s cypher and engraved date and signature, as well as “box #4”.  We are unsure what this references, but considering how scarce this design is, it is possible that each one made was numbered sequentially. 

McKeown's pieces are among the finest examples of quality Studio American craftsmanship and design.  He was a San Francisco Bay area artist best known for his use of resin, metal and other inlays in his wood objects.  He was a graduate of the California College of Arts and Crafts and was a color theorist who won acclaim for his innovative resin inlays on a range of utilitarian objects. His work was exhibited nationally and internationally, including shows at the American Craft Museum in New York City, the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pennsylvania and the Yamaha Corporation American Craft Exhibit (1979-1980, Japan). He was a representative to the World Crafts Council Conference in Vienna in 1980. His body of work is somewhat limited because of his early death in 1989 at the age of 58.  His works are becoming increasingly well recognized for their mastery of materials and design.