15 Artifacts of Girlhood
From the personal collection of Simone Basmajian, this exhibit showcases a remarkable spectrum of objects that are both mundane and precious. One might find any of them in the jewelry box of a certain child from the early 21st Century.
From cheap plastic beads and stretchy string to gold adornments once belonging to girls who have long grown up, we are taught of the cyclical nature of growing up: incredibly unique, while also being remarkably similar.
What lies ahead is a journey through time and girlhood via jewelry. By the time you are done, the hope is that this display will give you a meaningful glimpse into life as a child in the 2010s.
A. Red and Gold Heart Earrings
From the Frankie by Francesca store in the Mall of America, Minnesota
ca. 2021-2023
Connections between female family members have been historically overlooked or trivialized despite often being the emotional core of the household. Through the caretaking of children and the managing of domestic matters, women keep the family afloat. Customarily, shopping is a socially acceptable activity that allows women to both get out of the house and bond with each other. Female cousins, aunts, and second cousins gather as an opportunity to unite with each other. This pair of earrings was acquired during such a trip by Michelle Angier on behalf of her daughter Simone alongside a pink dress Simone later wore to a family reunion.
B. Faux-Pearl Bracelet
Jewelry has been central to women for hundreds of years. The reasons are wide-ranging. For some, jewelry is an expression of their personal style and for some, it was the sole object whereby women could maintain direct ownership of their personal wealth.
In the tradition of doting grandmothers who passed down various adornments, Judy Goetz-Basmajian gave this to her granddaughter Simone while they were looking through her jewelry boxes. Later in the conversation she added, “This will all be yours when I die.”
C. Wooden Bead Bracelet
From an unknown store in Hawai’i
ca. 2018-2021
With such value— sentimental and monetary— placed in jewelry by adults, it is no wonder that children often emulate this behavior through such objects as friendship bracelets, necklaces, and more.
This piece was gifted to Simone by Jessie Vanderwall after visiting family in Hawai’i. Jessie gifted each of his friends such a bracelet in their favorite color.
D. Purple, Blue, & Gold Star Bracelet
Created by Simone Basmajian with materials from Harriet and Winnie Angier
ca. 2021
Made by Simone at 11 years old, this bracelet is around the same size as the gold children’s bracelet you will see later in this exhibit. While far from equivalent in material value, the same can not be true of sentimental. One was passed down without much knowledge. The other was made alongside cousins, and contains an entire story within itself.
E. Yellow & White Daisy Bracelet
From the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
ca. 2019
Unlike the other pieces in this exhibit, this object was loaned with an exact date of acquisition. Bought at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. on December 31st, 2019, this item speaks to a clear memory of Simone’s— the last before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
F. Teal Owl Watch
Gift of unknown origin
ca. 2016-2018
A dearly beloved object. In the archive of pictures from Simone’s childhood the motifs of owls, as well as the colors pink and teal are often present. This item was presented to be displayed in this exhibit with the context that though aesthetically pleasing, Simone found the watch wristband too itchy to ever truly wear.
This piece is often credited as a gift from Simone’s paternal grandmother.
G. Blue & Pink Virgo Bracelet
Created by Simone Basmajian with materials provided by teachers ca. 2022-2023
Made of cheap plastic beads and stretchy string, this piece reminds the viewer that there is joy to be had in even the simplest of things, and to reach into themselves to find the inner child who once marveled at the simple miracles that the world offered to every young mind.
H. Gold Owl Charm
From a Canadian national park ca. 2016-2019
Acquired in the gift shop of a Canadian national park, this item depicts an owl with a glow-in-the-dark teal stomach under a layer of metal netting. Once a charm on a necklace, the gold chain was lost. Simone, despite having begged for the necklace, never ended up replacing it. Instead the charm was neglected, only to be discovered years later as a reflection of childhood.
I. Blue Beaded Bracelet
Found on the school playground; true origin unknown ca. 2014-2018
In the historical tradition of children lying to get what they want, this piece was wrongly claimed by Simone after being found by a teacher on the school playground. This represented a new area of experience as up until this point, Simone’s character had never wavered on moral matters such as returning a lost item to its rightful owner despite personal wishes.
J. Iridescent Crystal Necklace
From the collection of Marilynn Fowler, gifted to Simone Basmajian circa. 2017-2020
True date of origin unknown
In a demonstration of kindness, Marilynn Fowler gifted this necklace to Simone during a dinner among the friends. Despite Simone’s father trying to dissuade her, Marilynn insisted on offering it to the child who had looked at it with wonder.
K. Michelle’s Gold Heart Locket
From the collection of Michelle Angier, gifted to Simone Basmajian circa 2021-2023
True date of origin unknown
Entangled in two other necklaces, this locket chronicles not just the childhood of one girl, but two. This article was likely gifted to Michelle Angier by her mother. In turn, Michelle passed it down to her daughter, Simone.
L. Gold Cross Necklace
From the collection of Michelle Angier, gifted to Simone Basmajian circa 2021-2023
True date of origin unknown
In conversations with Simone about her childhood, Michelle Angier would often state, “We believe in a kind God,” as a reference to the religion she was raised with and maintains faith in. Over time, these words grew from a throw-away line to a view of the world that Simone embraced, becoming a meaningful lesson in compassion.
M. Teresa’s Gold Heart Locket
From the collection of Michelle Angier, gifted to Simone Basmajian circa 2021-2023
True date of origin unknown
In an apt representation of sisterhood, this item likely belonged to Teresa Angier before somehow ending up in Michelle Angier’s hands. As the second locket in this tangle, it remains unclear which locket belonged to which sister.
N. Gold Children’s Bracelet
From the collection of Michelle Angier, gifted to Simone Basmajian circa 2021-2023
True date of origin unknown
With no formal first owner but a tell-tale size, we are free to imagine any number of possible stories for this object. Passed down through generations or made for a child upon her adoption— there is no definitive answer to where it came from. What we do know is that once it was a treasure in the jewelry box of a mother. A precious thing that caught the curious eyes of her daughter.
O. Freshwater Pearl & Gold Necklace
From the collection of Judy Goetz-Basmajian, gifted to Simone Basmajian circa. 2014-2018.
True date of origin unknown
This piece was included in the collection not to showcase any personal story of Simone’s, but instead to question the viewer. This necklace leaves us wondering what it means to have no emotional tie to an object in your possession while knowing somebody once did. Furthermore, another question is raised: what does it mean to be remembered, or forgotten? And how might an item of jewelry contain clues to both?
