It's What's Inside That Counts - Holding Place

Materials: Mild steel, oxidation
Dimensions: 3" x 3" x 5"

This piece focuses on the juxtaposition between how we perceive external and internal beauty. I deliberately oxidized the interior of the steel chalice to produce a slow deterioration of the piece. In a way, the chalice is an extremely slow performance piece. The exterior is beautifully polished and etched, but eventually the piece will completely wither and deteriorate due to the internal changes occurring.

Photo credit: Parker Brown

Parker Erich Brown
Crescent Moon Armoury
Carbondale, IL. USA

I am originally from Denton, TX where I earned an M.F.A. in Metalsmithing from the University of North Texas. My career has included teaching as well as serving as artist in residence at a smal artisan center in Eastern Kentucky. I own my own business specializing in historical metalwork and armour as well as being a lecturer on the topic. Most recently, my armour work was shown in the PBS series, NOVA as part of their episode, “Secrets of the Viking Sword”.

My current work focuses on the use of historical armour as a medium from which I express issues regarding the nature of human relationships. While I have created armour as a purely functional and aesthetic object, my recent work now explores armour as a vehicle for more conceptual expression. All my pieces are produced directly from the visual and technical tradition of historical armour, but use modifications of the original form and function to address new metaphorical meanings.

By combining technical and conceptual knowledge in a new, but recognizable form, I aim to illicit an experience initially triggered by investigation of the craftsmanship of the object and fed by a deeper message communicated by the obvious manipulation of the form’s function and aesthetic. Thus, my pieces attempt a dialog with the public through the combination of technical attraction and conceptual discourse.


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.