Just flicking through the latest edition of Jewellery Focus magazine and came across some really interesting cuffs made by Sheffield based designer Jessica Flinn.
There are several collections inspired by everything from antique lace to ceramics, and they piqued my interest as they looked different to anything I'd seen elsewhere (and yes, the bird motifs did catch my eye!)
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| Courtesy of www.jessicaflinn.co.uk |
I've never been a fan of modern jewellery, but this is the fifth contemporary designer I've found recently who I really like so it got me thinking whether or not I need to change my perspective on new jewellery. I've been involved in antiques for so long now, dismissing modern jewellery as soulless and shallow - have I been missing out?
For Christmas, I must have been a very good girl because Santa bought me a Helen Noakes ring after I fell in love in the RBSA gallery just off St Paul's Square, Birmingham. Helen is based in Salisbury and among her handmade collections are pieces featuring miniature people and animals, set in acrylic and silver. They are charming, witty and really nicely made - and they bring an element of fun into jewellery which I feel is seriously lacking. I don't know about you but I really feel like jewellery has become far too pretentious of late - not enough buying because you like it, more buying because peer pressure dictates you must have the latest "Pandora" charm even though (in my opinion) they're overpriced and pedestrian. Am I the only person in the world who hates those things?? (If I knew how to make an eye roll emoticon on here, believe me you'd be seeing it....)
I have the penguin ring - it was just so quirky I couldn't help but covet and I would love to add the seaside bracelet and "Hound Dog" bangle to my collection! Pity Santa only visits once a year....
On a completely different theme, I discovered a designer called Sue Askew whilst visiting my favourite vintage shop in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. They had a small collection of pieces and I fell for this snake bangle:
I think there is one still available here:
http://www.alexandramay.com/shop/category/askew-bracelets/ together with many other delectable items I'm drooling over. Sue uses gems and findings from original 1940's and 50's jewellery to embellish her designs meaning no two pieces are the same, and they are all limited in number and very bold in appearance! My bangle never fails to catch admiring glances, it's beautifully made and unbelievably heavy!
I'm also coveting some pieces by artists recently exhibiting at the RBSA; April Neate's and "Bug's" gorgeous handmade silver pieces are well considered, quirky and I love that they explore not only novel ways of wearing jewellery but also how everyday items can become jewels with a little imagination!
I think the thing I've always hated about modern jewellery is the mass produced element. I'll never like mass produced jewellery. I know you could argue that mass production has been with us for 150 years, but at least with antique or vintage pieces their individual history gives them soul. No two pieces have experienced the same passage through time, and what was once one of a thousand is now possibly one of only ten surviving. Each piece remains only because of the affection someone else had for it, the care they took when wearing it, and the value they placed on it regardless of its intrinsic value. Maybe that's what I want from modern jewellery, because I'm a hopeless romantic and I don't want to invest sentiment in something pieced together by soulless machines. Perhaps that's why these designers appeal so much to me - because they love what they create and that makes me want to love it too.
So what do you think? Should I get a grip and accept that the likes of Pandora will continue to thrive regardless of my loathing? Or should people want more emotion for their money?
Signing Off...
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