Re-imagine; reinterpret
Pendant Collection. Sterling silver, fine silver, copper, vitreous enamel. Image: Michelle Bowden, Visuall
In 2017 or thereabouts, I purchased a collection of enamel colour samples from Lawson Gems in Brisbane. These samples, most on a copper base, and a few on fine silver, came from an unnamed studio in south-east Queensland.
The range of lustrous colour caught my eye, and the possibilities of giving them a new life in another form. Making samples is an integral part of the process in an enameller’s studio and I liked the idea of getting them out of the studio where their purpose is as a reference tool, and onto the body.
I have tried to maintain the integrity of the pieces, using them as is, complete with flaws, uneven shapes and not quite matching pairs - many of the colour tests are nearly the same colour…but not quite. I have chosen forms to showcase the colour and basse-taille detail on the metal.
The sterling silver is recycled, and the 9 carat gold was purchased from the estate of a member of my extended family, and had been hidden in a box since the early 1990’s.
This collection of re-imagined and reinterpreted materials is transformed into a collection of unique pieces; they can never be replicated.
The work was exhibited at Studio Ingot in 2019.
The range of lustrous colour caught my eye, and the possibilities of giving them a new life in another form. Making samples is an integral part of the process in an enameller’s studio and I liked the idea of getting them out of the studio where their purpose is as a reference tool, and onto the body.
I have tried to maintain the integrity of the pieces, using them as is, complete with flaws, uneven shapes and not quite matching pairs - many of the colour tests are nearly the same colour…but not quite. I have chosen forms to showcase the colour and basse-taille detail on the metal.
The sterling silver is recycled, and the 9 carat gold was purchased from the estate of a member of my extended family, and had been hidden in a box since the early 1990’s.
This collection of re-imagined and reinterpreted materials is transformed into a collection of unique pieces; they can never be replicated.
The work was exhibited at Studio Ingot in 2019.
