Surely a strong contender for best trip souvenir ever, this solid gold Lunar Excursion Module is one of three made by Cartier and presented to Apollo 11 astronauts Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. This stunning piece is now on display at the Forbes Galleries in New York through September 7 as part of an exhibit entitled “Out of This World: Jewelry in the Space Age”.
According to exhibit curator Elyse Zorn Carlin, “Space has always been in our consciousness and often expressed in jewelry. The ancients wore amulets depicting the moon; in Georgian and Victorian jewelry we see numerous depictions of the moon, stars, and Halley’s Comet. The mid-20th century saw an explosion of “space age jewelry” and corresponding couture, and today the “futuristic” look in fashion is “in” thanks to Lady Gaga and other entertainers.” (source)
The exhibit contains many stunning pieces inspired both by the mysteries of the cosmos and by the modern technology that allows us to see space and travel there. A gallery of images is here.
The Finch and Pea 