individual icons, established in 1984, has been producing well designed and constructed pieces of jewelry for over forty years. 

LeeAnn Herreid, our founder and original artist, discovered her calling very early in life. When LeeAnn was just six, her teacher wrote: “LeeAnn can use any tool with complete control.” The youngest of five children, LeeAnn grew up in a Concord, Massachusetts home in which there was an enthusiasm for home projects.

Intrigued by the tools and materials in her midst, LeeAnn discovered metalworking at the age of 14. She set up a bench in the basement and began experimenting making bent, beaded and forged wire jewelry. LeeAnn learned to solder with a plumbing torch, and she went on to purchase a real torch and some tools. In her many experiments, she learned the basics and continued to challenge herself.

LeeAnn would make one-of-a-kind silver pieces and sell them to shops, friends, and her friends’ mothers. Also, she would set up a small portable display in Harvard Square, Cambridge, selling just enough jewelry to go and buy more supplies. She would spend lots of time in the jeweler’s building in Boston, as this was the closest place to purchase any metals, tools, supplies, or gemstones. 

Sophomore year in high school, LeeAnn lucked out and got an apprenticeship. She worked with a master jeweler who saw that LeeAnn had patience, a steady hand, a strong work ethic, humility, humor, and a good sense of design. She worked for him for the next three years and learned a tremendous amount about production, fabrication, antique repair and restoration, and the ethics of the jewelry industry, which does million-dollar-deals on a handshake and your word of honor.

By this time, her portfolio was extensive enough that LeeAnn was accepted to Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where she majored in Jewelry/ Light Metals. She learned fabrication, raising, finishing, and studied the history of art jewelry as well as the concept behind a piece. During this very intensive four year program LeeAnn’s first compass jewelry was created. She also made a series of rings that told time (a sundial), found your center, (a level), and other functional/ directional pieces. 

LeeAnn graduated in 1991 and worked for two years at a high-end jewelry business on the coast of Maine. Two years later she began individual icons and started producing jewelry with a purpose: compasses, levels, thermometers, and dice all set into rings, pendants or earrings. LeeAnn spent years making all of the models, learning about shrinkage, casting, mold making, selling to stores, and expediting. 

By the time LeeAnn was 25 years old, she was enjoying some recognition. Her work had been plugged on MTV, exhibited in several galleries and Museums, and had been shown with Awards in Christie’s Auction House in NYC.

By the time LeeAnn was 30 years old, her work had been exhibited by The Brooklyn Museum, the NY Public Library, the Nature Company, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, International Center of Photography, the Museum of American Folk Art, and had been featured in New York Magazine.

By the time LeeAnn was 40 years old, her work had been sold by the MASS MOCA, Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Museum of Natural History, the Royal Ontario museum (the ROM), the Boston ICP, and Museum of Science. The work of individual icons has been featured in the Boston Globe, the NY times, ID magazine, Travel and Leisure, and has won several “Best of” Awards for the State of Rhode Island.

 

What's next for individual icons? Time will tell, but we know we'll be wearing a compass necklace to make sure we're always heading in the right direction.