Materials: Pure Silver and semi precious gemstones
Dimensions: 6" x 4" x 3"
Pandora’s Secret has hematite feet and the amethyst cabochon handle unscrews so the tessalated bead comes off and becomes a pendant. The gemstones are 1 carat each garnet, peridot, citrine and amethyst.
Photo credit: Ralph Gabriner
James E Biond
Biondo Jewelry
Jacksonville, Florida. USA
With over 25 years of jewelry designing and fabrication experience, I have found my metal of choice to be Pure Silver, which is the whitest of all precious metals.
I escaped the cold weather of New Jersey in 1994 and became a Jacksonville, Florida resident where I can usually be found creating my unique designs into the wee hours of the morning in my fully-loaded studio.
After graduating from Penn State University with an Associate degree in Engineering, I traveled and worked in different countries throughout Europe. Upon my return to the U.S., I became fascinated with gemstones and metals. I began my formal jewelry training at Rowan State College in New Jersey and continued at the Center of Visual Arts and College of Arts in NJ and PA, along with attending many workshops. After I obtained my silversmithing certification from the PA Guild of Craftsmen, I joined the PA Society of Goldsmiths, and transferred to the Florida Society of Goldsmiths (FSG) in 1994. I am one of the past presidents of the NorthEast Chapter of FSG.
I am an advocate of continuous education. However, most of my techniques have been learned through irreplaceable “hands on” experience. My design inspirations have come from many different aspects of life, such as boot laces, gears, folded forms, teapots, and irregular shapes. My goal is to help beautify every woman who wears my creations.
Craftsmanship Experience Passion
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.
