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Henry Shawah: The Eagle Artist
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Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. letter
Agnes Gund to Hillary Rodham Clinton re: address [partial] (1 page)
09/08/1998
P6/b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
First Lady's Office
Bobbie Greene
OA/Box Number: 15628
FOLDER TITLE:
Henry Chawah: The Eagle Artist
2012-0872-S
rc987
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - 15 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRAJ
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA|
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information |(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy |(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRAJ
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
HENRY
SHAWAH
1851 MASS AVE CAMPRIDGE MASS 02140
Sept. 17-95
Dear Mrs. Green
Enclosed are 3
Color of 3 black & white
photos with a description
8 Vita the E sagle. of aro chure also polder. my
Please let tal know
if d d can be of further
help Sincerely
"elected an Associate of the Wardens and
Commonality of the Mystery of Goldsmiths of the City of
HENRY SHAWAH
London." Goldsmiths' Hall, London, April 1, 1981.
HENRY
SHAWAH
1851 MASS. AVE.. CAMBRIDGE. MASS. 02140
The eagle and the rose , symbols of the United States
are composed of fine silver and 18 karat yellow gold
and are mounted on an aged pearwood plinth. The gold and
pearl rose the eagle clutches can be removed from the
talon and worn as a jewel.
The dimensions of the piece are: 13½ inches (30.5 cm.)
high and 10 inches (25.2 cm. ) wide The rose is 3½ inches
(8.4 cm.) long
Both the eagle and the rose are smithed from gold and
silver ingots, hammer formed, textured, sawed and sol- -
dered creating a sculpture of over 170 seperate units,
the stylized cloud forms and the base ornaments are also
in 18 karat gold and fine silver.
Sections of the wings will vibrate if the piece is
subjected to movement. For example; any slight vibration
of its display unit. The spirals at the base of the
feathers enhance this action.
When not on display the eagle lives in a velvet lined
mahogany case It does not fear the dark or confinement.
GOLDSMITH
THE GOLDSMITH
A ring moves with the hand
And becomes an object in motion.
A brooch, a necklace
Holds fast to the body.
Jewelry, jewelry
Always an intimacy with the body.
And the sculpture in gold and silver?
Waits
For the viewer.
GREAT artists like Ghirlandio and Dürer, who were gold-
smiths as well as painters, understood these relationships and
moved easily from the art of goldsmithing to the art of
drawing and painting.
It is this alliance of goldsmithing with the other fine arts
that has been the inspiration for the work of Henry Shawah,
the first American to be honored by London's Worshipful
Company of Goldsmiths with a one-man show at Goldsmiths'
Hall in 1970. He was elected in 1981 to become an Associate
of this world renowned guild. Outside of the United Kingdom
only forty other individuals in the world share this honor.
From the days of his first studio on Nantucket Island in
1953 to his current studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the
jewelry and sculpture designed and executed by Henry Shawah
has been exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries
and museums. Among his creations are golden hair ornaments
for royalty, a presentation piece from a fragment of the original
Russian Sputnik and the "Water Bird" salt cellar of gold with
blue and green sapphires to honor Julia Child.
Henry Shawah's artistry is the product of his own hand,
from the initial step of forming a gold ingot to the final surface
treatment and setting of stones. His technique is that of
the traditional goldsmiths, who from the time of the ancient
Egyptians worked the precious metal with hammer and
fire, but his creations are the reflections of our time from
flights of fancy to the emotional expressions that concern all
serious artists.
THE
RW Greene
Custon @
Commo
-
-
4. welss @ welss @ Grols Com
telf's E- E-mail
Weisslink @
[ AOL. Com ]
- IV s,doy
-
P
Bitsey
8
128 Clark.
Net
I
& & - mail
[ Alice - 4. Pushkay
@ OA . EOP. Gov.
Roberta _W. - - Greene
& a
-
OR-
\
Dave Kamila @ Erols
Com
I
- Thanks for Gund HOUSE eagle
- wants THE WHITE
Millenium WASHINGTON ASHINGTONT or
Henry Shaw
1851 Mass Are
Cambridge , Tha
02140
617/864-4635
I
-
Judi
MarkanJudy @ AOL
Cam
1
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. letter
Agnes Gund to Hillary Rodham Clinton re: address [partial] (1 page)
09/08/1998
P6/b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
First Lady's Office
Bobbie Greene
OA/Box Number: 15628
FOLDER TITLE:
Henry Chawah: The Eagle Artist
2012-0872-S
rc987
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA|
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRAJ
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA|
financial information |(a)(4) of the PRA|
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy |(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy |(a)(6) of the PRA|
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes |(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
P6/(b)(6)
[001]
September 8, 1998
Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Office of the First Lady
Old Executive Office Building
Room 100
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Hillary,
It is our pleasure to present you and Bill with this eagle and rose
sculpture by Henry Shawah. I think he is a magnificent artist with
a wonderful imagination, who does an incredible job of mixing
gold and silver. Some of my most cherished jewelry is by him.
Your visionary leadership has strengthened our country in
countless ways, and this gift is a small token of my deep
appreciation for all that you have done, especially your
extraordinary commitment to the arts.
Sincerely,
aguse a Dovel
Agnes Gund
A
HENRY SHAWAH
GOLDSMITH
1851 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
BORN:
September 20, 1920, Danbury CT
SERVICE:
U.S.N. 1942-1945 P.T. Boat, Torpedoman
EDUCATION:
Pratt Institute, Graduated 1949
Boston University, Graduated 1952
B.S. Art Education
Columbia University, Graduated 1957
M.A. Fine Arts
OTHER STUDIES and/or CLASSES:
Yale School of Art
School of the Museum of Fine Art, Boston
Courses in Public Speaking, Stained Glass
Rendering, Life Drawing, Gold Granulation,
Byzantine Gold Techniques, Enameling.
1949-1951
After graduating from Pratt, my first job was designing
Ship Interiors for Irving and Casson in Boston. They did
many Newport mansions, the interior of St. John the Divine
in New York, etc. Ship Interiors turned into Queen chairs.
I left.
The next job was with Boston architect T.B. Epps doing
commercial interiors. The Korean war created a shortage of
copper and there was no plumbing for toilets, the job
ended. Then worked for a Boston decorator. My job was to
tell her what all those funny lines on the blueprints were;
I lasted three months. During the same period I taught an
evening course in design at the Vesper George School of
Art. A short summer course in design. The School of Fashion
& Design, Boston.
I had some G.I. Bill left so I went to Boston University
and was able to complete my work for a B.S. in one year.
Was asked to stay on, organize and teach a course in
Interior and Basic Design. We did many innovative things at
B.U., alarmed the administration by painting our small
gallery white. It was a pale pink.
My career in goldsmithing began during my first year of
teaching at Boston University. As head of a department I
received free a copy of a book by Weinbrenner, "How to Make
Jewelry." It was a revelation
It was possible to make
miniature sculpture called jewelry. I was carried away with
the idea. My first workshop was during the summer of 1953
on Nantucket, MA, in the back of a friend's gift shop. I
made, she sold.
HENRY SHAWAH
2.
After teaching for four years, a salary of $4200.00 and an
eight subject teaching load, I became suspicious of the
administration. I left and went to Columbia for my graduate
degree in art.
1962-1959
Had several one man shows while in New York, Columbia
University, Raybun Studios, America House, and began
selling my work to Georg Jensen. The U.S. State Department
bought a piece of my work to be shown in Turkey. Was helped
by Greta Daniel the then curator of design at MOMA. And my
work was shown to Rene de Hourancourt who declared it "trés
joli" and patted my head. Pavement pounding in New York was
futile, the only sale was to Georg Jensen, others thought
my work was nice but it didn't look like the jewelry they
could sell. A loan from friends helped me move my workshop
from the subbasement of Mr. Roth's sign shop to the lofty
heights of Arthur Winter's third floor dental lab on
110th Street off Broadway, where I yearned for Mr. Roth's
mammoth cockroaches. At least they didn't mug you. My last
year in New York I had to give it all up. No money. No
customers. No mental stability. I took a job as designer
with the Almor Corp. in Queens, designing supermarkets.
Saved every penny and in November 1959, and with the help
of my dear friend Ruth, moved back to Cambridge to a small
basement shop which I shared with my cat, Haroun. In
Cambridge, I goldsmithed and had the dubious honor of being
the only goldsmith in the yellow pages. Taught design
courses at the Polaroid Corp., The Cambridge Center for
Adult Education, and even Boston University. The B.U.
administration had become somewhat enlightened about salary
about then.
I became the object of curiosity to the Harvard Business
School. Why wasn't I going out of business? What was my
secret? The answer was simple. After the first year there
was a 100% increase in business: from $1,300 to $2,600.
In 1961 I was one of the few Americans invited to exhibit
work in England at the very first international show of
"Modern Jewelry 1890-1961." Being of unsound mind and naive
in the way of the international art world, I sent my work
via the U.S. mail. It arrived two days after the show
opened. There were some tears.
HENRY SHAWAH
3.
EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES, ETC.
1959 to Present
Work has been exhibited nationally and
internationally.
In the permanent collection of the worshipful
Company of Goldsmiths. Goldsmiths' Hall, London.
Permanent collection of Boston Museum of Fine arts.
Shown at the New York World's Fair.
The first American to have a one man show at
Goldsmiths' Hall
The Worshipful Company of
Goldsmiths, 1970.
Helped set up the 50th Anniversary Home Show
Exhibition, "European Goldsmiths" London.
Created my own Bicentennial medallion. Revived the
ancient technique of coining. Recorded video at
Goldsmiths' Hall.
I am and for over eight years have been a trustee of
the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts. The Oldest
Craft organization in the U.S. Instituted the annual
auction.
Lectures at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, various
craft and art centers. A film for the Boston Museum,
for the exhibition: "Treasures of Early Irish Art. "
Made a gold lunula for the film, which piece was
part of the "Irish Art" show, then went on to the
Philadelphia Museum.
Was made an associate of the Worshipful Company of
Goldsmiths, London. At the time there were only 40
others in the world granted this honor.
Involved in formation of a large crafts project in
North Adams, MA. It met a sad end.
A reception and show of my work at the Boston Museum
on being made an Associate of the Goldsmith Company.
For several years have been working with
Dr. Heather Lechtman of MIT on recreating ancient
Central and South American goldsmithing techniques.
The work appears in several publications by
Dr. Lechtman.
Have been and still an active in helping young
people in the arts find ways to make their work a
viable and supportive way of life.
HENRY SHAWAH
4.
MY PHILOSOPHY:
Design is the universal factor that binds all of the
applied arts together. The design factors that make a good
painting also make a good pot or piece of jewelry. I feel
the term "Decorative Arts" can be a put down for people
doing art other than painting and sculpture. I believe the
greatest dignity and achievement comes when a person
interprets the creativity of the mind into a tangible
physical object.
Art is a way of life, one is not artful only in the studio.
In order for the arts to flourish in the U.S. today, art
and artists must become a viable part of our economy. Poor
and suffering artists hardly ever create great or viable
works.
MY TECHNIQUE
I work as a traditional smith. I cast my own ingot or work
from a bar and by using various hammers and simple tools
forge the gold into various shapes and forms. The tools
with the exception of my torch, polishing wheel and
flexible shaft, are the same as those used by goldsmiths
throughout history. One cannot fear the medium or it will
show in the work as stilted and lifeless. Instead I go to
the gold as though I am the master. Sometimes the gold wins
and I have to remelt and begin all over again. I find it
very exciting using ancient techniques to create present
day expressions.
NON GOLD RELATED:
During the mid to late 70's, I organized and headed "The
Red Line Alert, " a community and citywide organization that
took the MBTA and the Bechtel Corp. to court to force them
to build the Red Line extension according to the
environmental impact statement they submitted. Their large
group of lawyers against our one lawyer was a Goliath
creaming poor David. Nevertheless we did manage to save
some historical landmarks from destruction, and I think we
have been an impetus for later groups seeking input in
matters concerning their community and our city.
A WEAKNESS AND LOVE
Restoring and working on old cars, old stoves, old
anything, is a great love and madness.
HENRY
SI HAWAH
1851 MASS. AVE.. CAMBRIDGE, MA 02140
PHOTOCOPA
PRESERVATION
Ms. Bobbie Greene
Office of the First Lady
Room 100
O.E.O.B.
Washington, D.C. 20500
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
HENRY
SHAWAH
1851 MASS. AVE., CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 02140
I
Sept.
Dear Mrs. Green
Enclosed are 3
THE GOLDSMITH
Color of 3 black & white
A ring moves with the hand
And becomes an object in motion.
photos with a description
A brooch, a necklace
Holds fast to the body.
of the Eagle. also my
Jewelry, jewelry
Always an intimacy with the body.
Vita of bro charl folder.
And the sculpture in gold and silver?
Please let dal know
Waits
For the viewer.
if d can be of further
GREAT artists like Ghirlandio and Dürer, who were gold-
help Sincerely
smiths as well as painters, understood these relationships and
moved easily from the art of goldsmithing to the art of
drawing and painting.
It is this alliance of goldsmithing with the other fine arts
that has been the inspiration for the work of Henry Shawah,
the first American to be honored by London's Worshipful
Company of Goldsmiths with a one-man show at Goldsmiths'
Hall in 1970. He was elected in 1981 to become an Associate
of this world renowned guild. Outside of the United Kingdom
only forty other individuals in the world share this honor.
From the days of his first studio on Nantucket Island in
1953 to his current studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the
ms. Bobbie Greene
jewelry and sculpture designed and executed by Henry Shawah
has been exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries
and museums. Among his creations are golden hair ornaments
for royalty, a presentation piece from a fragment of the original
Russian Sputnik and the "Water Bird" salt cellar of gold with
blue and green sapphires to honor Julia Child.
Henry Shawah's artistry is the product of his own hand,
from the initial step of forming a gold ingot to the final surface
treatment and setting of stones. His technique is that of
the traditional goldsmiths, who from the time of the ancient
Egyptians worked the precious metal with hammer and
HENRY SHAWAH
"elected an Associate of the Wardens and
fire, but his creations are the reflections of our time from
Commonality of the Mystery of Goldsmiths of the City of
flights of fancy to the emotional expressions that concern all
London." Goldsmiths' Hall, London, April 1, 1981.
serious artists.
HENRY
SHAWAH
1851 MASS. AVE., CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 02140
HENRY
SHAWAH
1851 MASS. AVE., CAMBRIDGE. MASS. 02140
The eagle and the rose , symbols of the United States
are composed of fine silver and 18 karat yellow gold
and are mounted on an aged pearwood plinth. The gold and
pearl rose the eagle clutches can be removed From the
talon and worn as a jewel.
The dimensions of the piece are: 13½ inches (30.5 cm.)
high and 10 inches (25.2 cm.) wide The rose is 3½ inches
(8.4 cm.) long
Both the eagle and the rose are smithed From gold and
silver ingots, hammer formed, textured, sawed and sol-
dered creating a sculpture of over 170 seperate units,
the stylized cloud forms and the base ornaments are also
in 18 karat gold and fine silver.
Sections of the wings will vibrate if the piece is
subjected to movement. For example; any slight vibration
of its display unit. The spirals at the base of the
feathers enhance this action.
When not on display the eagle lives in a velvet lined
mahogany case It does not fear the dark or confinement.
GOLDSMITH
THE GOLDSMITH
A ring moves with the hand
And becomes an object in motion.
A brooch, a necklace
Holds fast to the body.
Jewelry, jewelry
Always an intimacy with the body.
And the sculpture in gold and silver?
Waits
For the viewer.
GREAT artists like Ghirlandio and Dürer, who were gold-
smiths as well as painters, understood these relationships and
moved easily from the art of goldsmithing to the art of
drawing and painting.
It is this alliance of goldsmithing with the other fine arts
that has been the inspiration for the work of Henry Shawah,
the first American to be honored by London's Worshipful
Company of Goldsmiths with a one-man show at Goldsmiths'
Hall in 1970. He was elected in 1981 to become an Associate
of this world renowned guild. Outside of the United Kingdom
only forty other individuals in the world share this honor.
From the days of his first studio on Nantucket Island in
1953 to his current studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the
jewelry and sculpture designed and executed by Henry Shawah
has been exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries
and museums. Among his creations are golden hair ornaments
for royalty, a presentation piece from a fragment of the original
Russian Sputnik and the "Water Bird" salt cellar of gold with
blue and green sapphires to honor Julia Child.
Henry Shawah's artistry is the product of his own hand,
from the initial step of forming a gold ingot to the final surface
treatment and setting of stones. His technique is that of
the traditional goldsmiths, who from the time of the ancient
HENRY SHAWAH
"elected an Associate of the Wardens and
Egyptians worked the precious metal with hammer and
Commonality of the Mystery of Goldsmiths of the City of
fire, but his creations are the reflections of our time from
London." Goldsmiths' Hall, London, April 1, 1981.
flights of fancy to the emotional expressions that concern all
serious artists.
HENRY
SHAWAH
1851 MASS. AVE., CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 02140