Materials: Sterling silver & gold gilt
Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 x 5 cm
Etched, folded and riveted sterling silver box with gold gilt inside.
Photo credit: Kirsty Eaglesfield
Kirsty Eaglesfield
Edinburgh, UK
Kirsty Eaglesfield’s contemporary silverware and jewellery is inspired by the way the sea weathers and erodes objects changing their form, colour and texture. Tumbled piles of fish crates, old buoys, pieces of sea-washed glass, driftwood and the construction and shapes of boats are all central to her work as a silversmith. Used, worn objects and the way they have been patched-up and repaired, often modified for a use different to the object’s original purpose also inspire her. She works primarily in silver and wood, often incorporating pieces of scavenged, collected flotsam. She enjoys exploring the different ways each material can be worked with, textured, formed and treated to convey a sense of the sea and likes to add a bit of colour to her work using enamel and semi-precious stones where possible.
These containers and vessels definitely hold their place in the world of stunning art objects as well as in the world of metalsmithing.
Since the dawn of time humans have created containers to hold things that were important to them, from large vessels to hold food and harvests to intimate containers for small precious things. They might hold memories, ashes, medicine, beverage, fruit or food - but all spring from the imagination and skill of the maker. Some have specific religious functions, some are meant for everyday use. When one thinks of a vessel or container the inclination is to think of something with solid walls - yet many of these works involve the exploration of positive and negative space, and the use of negative space to help create the illusion of the wall of the vessel.
As the world’s largest jewelry related internet site, Ganoksin strives to develop exhibitions showcasing work from around the world. This exhibition was open to all metalsmiths, professional and amateur, advanced and beginner. Participants are from The Netherlands, the USA, Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, Israel, Hong Kong, Colombia, Romania, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia and Denmark. While most of the pieces are by an individual metalsmith, some are collaborations, one of three artists spanning 50 years.
In total 319 artists contributed 729 show pieces for the permanent online exhibition.
Objects in the exhibition include boxes, lockets, urns, ash containers, bowls, wine cups, reliquaries, match holders, vases, teapots, pitchers, sugar bowls, baskets, nests, pillboxes, clutches and a range of sculptural forms. A variety of techniques are showcased covering a wide range of metalsmithing techniques. Materials used include everything from gold and silver to less expensive metals. Ornamentation includes the addition of enamel, chasing and repousse’, gemstones and found objects.
The exhibition was curated by Beth Wicker, President of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths in the United States, and Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern Technical College in South Carolina. Director of the exhibition is Hanuman Aspler, founder of The Ganoksin Project, the world’s largest internet jewelry site.
