Let's talk about...Jewellery

I mentioned Rose Cascade necklace before, and this post will be dedicated to showing you my design development progress for this project resulting in finished product.
With Design Development and Design Realisation being separate on this project, we had fairly long amount of time to make final pieces really good; furthermore a deep consideration of design in itself was very encouraged.

I've made 2 main inspiration mood boards picking out images that I truly loved on first one and then focusing more on the form and shape of wild rose and flowering almond as you can see on the second mood board.

I've looked at competitors - what was already done in jewellery, to see what new I could bring to the market. I've looked at existing trends in fashion and lifestyle to get broader perspective.

All the while I knew that I wanted to return back to combining traditional techniques such as forging with modern ones - like laser welding, and I knew I wanted to use pearls in my design. I started to pick out forms and shapes, playing with them to make them into a piece of jewellery - necklace that would be not only simple, but with beautiful form as well.

Inspired by the work of Peter Page, I thought it would be nice to make catch a part of the necklace rather than just an addition.

I played a lot with form of the forged neck piece, before trying it out in real life through models.

I decided to use square silver wire after discovering I liked its contrast with roses.

Recreating rose proved to be the most problematic - I knew what I wanted, but the models I made didn't look as I wanted them to look.

I liked saw pierced and domed model a lot, and pressing gave me a really nice texture.

Ultimately I decided on combination of pressing, saw piercing and doming, with pearl on the inside welded with silver wire.

Final model and rendering - I didn't use pearl for the catch after all, but other than that - stayed pretty close to design.

Part of the project was consideration into possible selling outlets - to do that I looked back at my target customer mood board.

Considered expansion into collection through creating a pair of earrings.

Rose Cascade - necklace and earrings set made from silver and pearls

That's all for now - I hope you enjoyed it, and
                                                     
                                                       Stay golden!!!

With Goldsmiths' Fair up and running (there's just one week left, so if you haven't seen it already there is still some time!), I've decided to take a look at the Goldsmiths' Company, and their role in jewellery industry.
Goldsmiths' Company, which full name is actually the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths is one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London. Livery Companies are basically modern and ancient trade associations focused around specific trade or craft, and Goldsmiths' is no different.

Originally formed in 12th century and established as medieval guild for goldsmiths, bit further in time became responsible for silversmiths and jewellers as well.

Goldsmiths' Hall

 Interesting is the fact that term hallmarking originated from Goldsmiths' Hall - Headquarters of the Company. Back then, precious metals were checked and marked there.

Goldsmiths' Hall today

Today Company still plays a large role in its ancient trade by bringing all the tradesmen involved in goldsmithing and silversmithing together. It oversees the London Assay Office, checks validity of British coinage, organizes various events, exhibitions, competitions and fairs and was responsible for opening Goldsmiths' Centre in Clerkenwell (building which not only provides space for workshops and exhibitions, but also apprentice training).

Inside Goldsmiths' Hall

Goldsmiths' Company website is full of interesting information, worth checking out. Also make sure to check events and be on the lookout for the upcoming the Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Competition for 2015/16.
That's all for today.
                               
                                     Stay golden!!!




Copyrights for the images belong to their rightful owners 

It was the very first project that I did, back when starting HND Jewellery and Silversmithing. It introduced me to basic metal forming techniques, soldering, cold fixing and gave me first real experience with making something out of metal. It was meant to be sculpture inspired by insects, and a lot of research before I finally decided on what I wanted to do. Looking back, I know that there is a lot of things I didn't know then, and a lot of things I could have done better. But experience is experience, and although my insect is not perfect, I'm proud of what I achieved.

Design development started with tedious research into insects, different kinds - originally I did far more drawings of potential inspiration behind the piece. I drew pages upon pages, using different techniques. I think over time, my research has gotten much more focused, and as I explored my personal style, I knew which details I wanted to focus on. This - again comes from experience.

Praying mantis and its huge comical eyes had big impact on my design.

I absolutely love dragonflies - pattern on their wings is something absolutely spectacular, but I felt it was done far too many times for me to be able to make it new and interesting.

Research lead me to discover lacewings - insects with wings similar to dragonflies, but with a different feel about them.

Design development - combining all of my research to design insect sculpture I could produce.

After I had finished design, and explored it in 3-D using models, I've bought metal and got started.
Finished piece is made in gilding metal and copper. Wings were cold fixed with wires onto main body and certain elements polished back after oxidizing.
A bit of a funny background story - I had many problems with soldering head and one of the tutors had to help me. One day before the deadline, as I was finishing I dropped the piece onto the floor and the head fell off. I went home, depressed, but fortunately I did get the head soldered before deadline. Because of all these head problems I nicknamed my insect Nearly Headless Erick - courtesy of Gryffindor ghost from Harry Potter.

That's all for today - remember to keep your head cool - and attached.

                                                              Stay golden!!!

After a long break and much deserved holidays I finally found time to write new post. This time rather than processes and techniques - Peter Page.
I've had great pleasure of attending his talk in university, and he is amazing designer and goldsmith.
His work as you will see below is absolutely stunning - as he likes to describe it he doesn't like to make things which are just beautiful - there has to be purpose as well. For example necklace with beautiful in the front might also be a hidden lock. All his pieces have a wonderful flowing feel about them, an almost liquid - like quality, which inspired my final HND project - Rose Cascade necklace.

Studio piece commissioned for a client who wanted a very special gift for family - small sculptural replica of client's house, which taken apart becomes a set of jewellery.

Images above are a small selection of his work that I find particularly inspiring, but if you would like to see more of Peter Page's work then visit his website.
Peter Page makes jewellery for both men and for women, including rings, cuff links, brooches, pendants, bracelets and necklaces, some in plain polished 18 carat gold or platinum and some set with precious stones. His designs are created after careful consultation with client - he takes into account their lifestyle and personality, making sure that design of potential piece is not only a beautiful decoration, but that it fits their needs and style.
He uses very traditional techniques, making pieces by hand, and while in some cases the use of laser welding was required (and much enjoyed), his well honed bench skills are more than enough to produce pieces of stunning quality.
To learn more about Peter Page.
 That's it for today.
 
                                                                  Stay golden!!!