VERY RARE David Spada Aluminum Bracelet. Gifted directly from the artist after assisting a fashion shoot with him, with my friend Anne Bourdon (see photos included with two women) as one of the two models, in the East Village in a garage. Measures 2.75 inches width x 1.25 inches depth. The bracelet is flexible and was fitted for me. I believe it to be one of his prototypes, and definetly hand sculpted. The bracelet now has a beautifully aged patina, which could be polished but remains true to it’s age with this finish. A very rare find.
Research prices this item at USD$1200.
David Spada was a jewelry designer in New York City in the 1980s and 1990s, and the creator and marketer of Freedom Rings. Spada was born in New Britain, Connecticut and grew up in Berlin, Connecticut. He attended Parsons School of Design in New York City, graduating around 1982. He began making jewelry as a student, and his works were recognized as early as 1984. Preowned in excellent condition!!
David Spada (December 5, 1961 – May 13, 1996) was a jewellery designer who died of AIDS in New York City. He was 34 years old.
Born in New Britain, Spade grew up in Berlin where he was active in the Berlin Summer Youth Theater. In the 1980’s, he attended @parsonsschoolofdesign where he later taught jewellery design.
Based in NYC, Spada was the inventor of the Freedom Rings and part of the Lower East Side scene where his friends included
#KeithHaring (1958-1990), Lady Miss Kier, @official_lady_bunny and
#SalvadorDalí’s (1904-1989) protégé International Chrysis (1951-1990).
Spada’s clients included @Madonna, Nina Hagen and Grace Jones who performed in his apparel highlighted by body paint applied by Haring.
Spada’s work also featured in @voguemagazine, @elleusa and @harpersbazaarus. Just before his death, his “Absolut Spada” design was used nationally for an @absolutvodka_us campaign.
The March on Washington, a political rally held on April 25, 1993, brought Spada to prominence when his Freedom Rings sold out. From then on, his business was focused mainly on producing the rings from his studio located near Tompkins Square Park.
David Spada studied at the Parsons School of Design in the early 1980’s and was known for working with Patrick Kelly and Keith Haring. He designed costumes and jewelry for Madonna, Grace Jones, Nina Hegen and others. He had pieces featured in Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar and many more publications, and his “Absolut Spada” design for Absolut Vodka appeared in national magazines. By 1990 his well known “Freedom Rings” became very poplular, they were anodized aluminum rings in the colors of the rainbow, a symbol of Gay Pride, available in a variety of designs and super reasonable prices, and were sold as rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc
Research: Necklace selling at USD$1800.
https://www.1stdibs.com/jewelry/necklaces/choker-necklaces/david-spada-space-age-multicolor-aluminum-pendant-necklace/id-v_9231122/
http://www.artnet.com/artists/andy-warhol/david-spada-and-partygoer-a-39YsjlRi90DQNsDF2m1Jjg2
