Solid 18K Gold Smoking Toad Brooch Offers a Glimpse into the Whimsical Ways of Jewelry Designer Henry Dunay

I picture this hammered gold toad brooch on the lapel of a tuxedo, perhaps at a costume ball worn by someone dressed as Henry James, Washington Irving, or F. Scott Fitzgerald. With its smugly tilted head, its dapper platinum scarf, and its gold and platinum stogie, this portly gold frog is the whimsical creation of master goldsmith and highly decorated jewelry designer, Henry Dunay. Henry Dunay has been called a "peerless craftsman" and "the Father of the American school of jewelry design" {1}, and his jewelry has been worn by Hollywood celebrities, First Ladies, and international VIPs for the past forty years. Fighting the temptation to sell out to mass production, Mr. Dunay worked fifteen-hour days at his workbench to produce one-of-a-kind, imaginative, hand crafted pieces one by one. Proposing that designer jewelry "comes from an artistic impulse" {2}, Mr. Dunay has poured his life out in pursuit of this ideal, creating masterful pieces of wearable art with uncompromising quality and distinctive style. Though most of Mr. Dunay's work is stunning for its beauty and elegance, he did spend some time creating whimsical animal brooches like this one. His witty menagerie of golden animals speaks not only to Mr. Dunay's sense of humor, but also to his confidence as a designer. In his biography, one essayist remarks that the demand for elegance and sophistication in the fine jewelry market dissuaded most designers from weaving humor or wit into their designs. Not so for Henry Dunay, who made such fanciful pieces as a brooch featuring an egret resting on the backside of a rhinoceros, a monkey face bracelet with bulging diamond eyes, as well this funny pooch with an open gaping mouth and piercing diamond eyes. This smoking frog and his twin brother with a bow tie are an exquisite blend of the famous jeweler's artistry, skillful technique, and clever whimsy. They make a perfect choice for the whimsical, yet serious designer jewelry collector. Citations 1. Breslow, Susan. New York Magazine, 11/01/93. 2. New York Magazine, 11/02/92.