Mary James Designs
Mary Wallace has had an appreciation of art and beauty all of her life. Her father was stationed in France during WWII and his stories of Paris always fascinated her. She loved to hear his descriptions of the masterpieces in the Louvre and the architecture throughout Europe. It was his appreciation and love of art that inspired her creativity.
For the past several years, Mary Wallace’s passion has taken the form of jewelry design. She is joined by her two sisters and niece who assist in the joys of working with beautiful stones and creating designs. The collections reflect a wide array of ever-changing designs from casual to elegant. Their commitment is to create classic, fashion-forward jewelry that spans time, trends, and seasons.
A few years ago Mary found her father’s WWII medals and researched their meaning. She discovered the amazing history and beauty of antique medals and watch fobs, thus beginning to incorporate them into her designs.
The medals are original, and include those awarded for military service, sporting events, civil service, merit awards, and religious medals and crosses. Most of their medals, watch fobs, and vestas (match safes) date back to the 1800’s and early 1900′s. Her work with military medals is a tribute to those to whom the medals were awarded. May the memory of their service be kept alive with awareness and appreciation of the rights and freedoms we enjoy today. The architectural and sculptural properties of the medals and fobs make each piece a unique work of art with a fascinating history. The name of the company is a tribute to her father, James, for his inspiration and encouragement.
