Nameplates come in many shapes, styles, and sizes—from simple scripted pendants to bejeweled rings, belts, and bracelets wrought in gold, silver, and acrylic. Each piece embellished, etched, and accentuated, nameplates are coveted and precious objects—but what if they are something more? In this talk, the creators of The Nameplate: Jewelry, Culture, and Identity (Penguin Random House) share years of research into the multifaceted history and often-overlooked significance of nameplate jewelry, exploring how these pieces tell stories about identity, community, and the memories and legacies we seek to preserve.
The Nameplate: Jewelry, Culture, and Identity will be available to purchase.
About the panelists
Marcel Rosa-Salas is a cultural anthropologist, documentarian, and speaker who hails from Brooklyn, New York. She is cohost of the Top Rank podcast, coauthor of The Nameplate: Jewelry, Culture and Identity, and author of Total Market American: Race, Data and Advertising (forthcoming October 2024, Duke University Press).
Isabel Attyah Flower is a writer and editor based in New York City. She is executive editor of DeemJournal, editorial director of Foundwork, and leads the Public Discourse Program at re:arc institute. She is cohost of the Top Rank podcast and coauthor of The Nameplate: Jewelry, Culture, and Identity.
