They call him crazy like a fox, and when you look at some of his diamond and gold encrusted creations, you have to agree. Sidney Mobell is more than just a jeweler, he's an artist and visionary, and some of his unique jewelry creations are on exhibit at the Florida International Museum until September.

From the St. Pete Times: If you go: "Jeweled Objects of Desire" is at the Florida International Museum, 244 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg, through Sept. 30.

It's part of a larger exhibition, "A Taste of the Smithsonian," which features more jewelry and decorative objects from the Smithsonian. They are arranged with gorgeous, uncut chunks of jades, amethyst and quartz to juxtapose the materials' natural state and man-made refinements. An example: a "corn cob" made of pearls, gold and silk is paired with an oyster shell in which a pearl has formed."From the Vaults of the Florida Smithsonian Affiliates" displays a variety of art and artifacts from museums that, like FIM, are affiliated with the Smithsonian. A nice collection of self-taught artists, including big names such as Thornton Dial Sr., comes from the Mary Brogan Museum of Art in Tallahassee; paintings, prints and decorative arts, mostly 19th century, from the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach; and historical objects, fossils and rare shells from the South Florida Museum in Bradenton.




From jeweled sardine cans (complete with the fish of course) to a full game board and pieces to play Monopoly, his work is part of a world famous collection.