Contemporary Designer Maker Jewellery
Advice provided by Artfull Expression, a showcase for
contemporary designer makers.
23-24 Warstone Lane, Hockley, Birmingham.
0121 212 0430
1. What sort of Jewellery can you expect from our contemporary designer- makers? Expect the unexpected. Expect innovation, individuality, creativity and diversity. Expect to be surprised, astonished, amazed, amused or delighted.
2. Silver is the favourite metal. It can be attractively finished in a variety of ways- highly polished, matt, satin or oxidised. Gold is sometimes used by itself, but is more often used for details or for contrast in silver jewellery.
3. You will also find enamel and plique-a-jour, and jewellery made from anodised aluminium, acrylics, ceramics and glass.
4. Semi-precious stones such as amethysts, opals, tourmalines, agates, citrines and fresh-water pearls are used either with silver or with glass or beads on threads, ribbons or macramé.
5. The makers are as varied as their work. They are fully trained or self-taught, professional or semi-professional, working from home or in rented workshops. They are from every sort of background and are of all ages- and most of them are women.
6. Tools and techniques used are very much the same as they have always been – including the jeweller’s bench with it’s ‘peg’. The modern designer-makers who work in the Jewellery Quarter are carrying on developing its traditional ways and character, often in small workshops up narrow stairs in old buildings.
7. Most designer-makers will gladly accept commissions. If you want gold, white gold, platinum or precious stones a designer maker can usually be found to help you.
