Organized by the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and guest-curated by Elyse Zorn Karlin
Discover 200+ rare and historically significant jewelry pieces connected to internationally recognized makers like Fabergé, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and René Lalique. You’ll experience iconic artistic movements spanning 300 years, including Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and the Arts & Crafts movement.
Come for the sparkle. Stay for the history.
What Is the Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective Exhibition in Oshkosh?
Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective is a series of stories told through jewelry. Each piece reflects a moment in time, representing centuries of art, faith, fashion, and creative innovation.
The exhibition features over 200 exceptional works on loan from Chicago institutions and private collectors, including the Driehaus Museum, Richard H. Driehaus Collection, and the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art. Many of these pieces are rarely displayed publicly, let alone together, so don’t miss your moment.
Visitors will move chronologically through jewelry history, from late 17th-century devotional jewels to the sparkle of Art Deco, the flowing lines of Art Nouveau, and the handcrafted legacy of Chicago's own Arts & Crafts movement. Experience other notable art periods such as Jugendstil, Vienna Secession, Belle Époque, and Mid-Century Modern. Along the way, you'll encounter names that shaped design history, including Fabergé, René Lalique, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Chicago's own Kalo Shop, plus contemporary studio jewelers still creating in the Chicago area today.
This collection also features objects that showcase design connections beyond jewelry, including Tiffany stained-glass windows, a Lalique glass statuette, and a Paul Revere Jr. sterling silver pitcher.
The Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective exhibition presenting sponsor is Jewelers Mutual and the show is supported by Travel Wisconsin.
Inside Wisconsin's Must-See Jewelry Exhibit
Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective spans three centuries of American and European history. Each piece is uniquely shaped by the beliefs, fashions, and breakthroughs of its time. Here's a preview of what awaits designers, students, collectors, tourists, and our wider community at this exhibit.
Faith and Devotion
Marvel at 17th-century devotional jewels – gold, enamel, and pearl crucifixes and pendants created as deeply personal expressions of belief.
Revival and Romance
See 19th-century Renaissance and Egyptian Revival pieces inspired by archaeology, royal collections, and a fascination with the past.
Edwardian Elegance
Discover platinum jewelry so delicate it looks like lace, made possible by a technological breakthrough that changed jewelry-making forever.
Art Nouveau's Living Forms
Experience plique-à-jour enamel, a stained-glass-like technique used to capture the translucency of flower petals and insect wings.
Chicago's Arts & Crafts Legacy
Explore work from the legendary Kalo Shop, founded in Chicago in 1900 by Clara Barck Welles. It’s a story of design, immigration, and female entrepreneurship.
Tiffany & Co. Innovation
View pieces shaped by design leaders like Julia Munson and Meta Overbeck, whose bold use of color and stone helped define American jewelry design.
Glamour of the Jazz Age
Take in the geometry and energy of Art Deco, influenced by Cubism, modern travel, and the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb.
Fabergé Precision
Get up close to guilloché enamel – a technique combining mechanical precision with jewel-like shimmer.
Sculptural Tiaras
Admire tiaras designed as artistic statements, not just symbols of status, including one made with horn, a bold material choice for its time.
Chicago's Living Tradition
View work by the exhibit's contemporary artists, living proof that Chicago's jewelry-making legacy is still very much alive and innovating.
René Lalique Artistry
See work connected to René Lalique, including a Lalique glass statuette and jewelry pieces.
Whether you're a lifelong jewelry lover, looking for a family-friendly educational experience, planning a unique date night, or simply curious about the cultural significance of this collection, Chicago Collects is designed for anyone to enjoy. Expect to be amazed as you move through 300 years of craftsmanship, one story at a time.
Oshkosh Things to Do: World-Class Art, Close to Home
The Oshkosh Public Museum has long been a place where nationally significant exhibitions come to life for our community. Chicago Collects continues that tradition, bringing museum-quality works right here to Oshkosh.
“We are thrilled to bring Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective to the Oshkosh Public Museum. This exhibition offers visitors the chance to experience 200 extraordinary pieces of jewelry while exploring the art, history, craftsmanship, and cultural influences behind them. It is a beautiful exhibition, but it is also a meaningful opportunity to connect Oshkosh audiences with regional history and world-class design.” – Emily Rock, Assistant Director/Chief Curator, Oshkosh Public Museum.
Every piece in this exhibition comes from trusted Chicago-area institutions and collectors. This fact is a testament to the strength of the relationships that made Chicago Collects possible, as well as Oshkosh Public Museum’s reputation as a destination worthy of world-class collections.
Plan Your Visit to Chicago Collects at the Oshkosh Public Museum
Oshkosh Public Museum Hours
Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Extended hours on Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays, Mondays, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and December 24 & 25
Oshkosh Public Museum Location, Parking, & Accessibility
Address
1331 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh WI 54901.
Parking
Visitor parking at the Oshkosh Public Museum is free. Accessible parking spaces are located at the center of the parking lot, nearest the ramp entrance. Overflow parking is available in the former River Valley Church parking lot.
Accessibility
Our building is fully accessible, with a wheelchair lift located just inside the main entrance and an elevator servicing all other facilities. For specific accessibility questions, contact us at (920) 236-5799.
Exhibit Prices for Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective
General Admission grants you access to the entire Oshkosh Public Museum for a full day, including this special exhibit. You may buy your tickets when you arrive.
Museum Members: Free
Adults: $8
Seniors (62+) and Students: $6
Children (4-17): $4
Children 3 and under: Free
50% admission discounts with proof of membership or Admission from the Paine Art Center and Gardens or the EAA Museum.
Exhibit Dates for Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective in Oshkosh
This special exhibit opens on September 19, 2026, and closes on March 20, 2027.
Make it a Day Trip
Drive just twenty minutes north to the R. Harder Gallery of Gems and Minerals, located inside the headquarters of Jewelers Mutual Group, the presenting sponsor of Chicago Collects. The gallery features a large private collection of natural gemstones, crystals, and mineral specimens — many still in their original matrix. Admission is free.
Chicago Collects: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know a lot about jewelry to enjoy this exhibit?
You don’t need any prior knowledge of jewelry to enjoy Chicago Collects. This Wisconsin jewelry exhibit is designed for everyone, including first-time museum visitors. The exhibit is visually stunning and educational, perfect for all ages.
How long does it take to see the exhibit?
Most visitors spend an hour or more exploring Chicago Collects, though the pace is entirely up to you.
Is Chicago Collects included with general admission?
Yes, your membership or general admission ticket grants access to Chicago Collects and the entire museum for the day.
How long will Chicago Collects be on view?
Chicago Collects runs from September 19, 2026 through March 20, 2027. After that, these pieces return to their home collections, so don't wait too long to visit.
This Stunning Collection Won’t Last Long
Visit us before the exhibit closes. Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective is on view at Oshkosh Public Museum through March 20, 2027. We’re honored to bring world-class jewelry and centuries of history to Oshkosh for a limited time.
