Materials: Silver, enamel, fine gold foils, carnelian
Dimensions: 95 mm high
“Scherezade” Silver Box with Enamelled Dome lid and Bayonet clasp.
Scherezade arose from my love of India and following an inspirational trip to an exhibition, ‘Shamiana The Mughul Tent’, at the V&A in 1999. The exhibition showed large scale textile panels created by women’s groups around the UK. These panels depicted a myriad of images and stories from women’s lives and memories. My box comprises a silver container with a bayonet clasp for an enamelled lid in the form of a dome. The box as a whole is reminiscent of Moghul architecture, and the dome depicts a series of snapshots that reminded me of my visits to India. The enamelling is a combination of champlev? enamel with cloisonn? detail and fine gold foils. The lid is topped by a finial of a bezel set, bullet shaped carnelian.
Photo credit: Linda Connelly
Linda Connelly
Linda Connelly Enamels and Jewellery
South Croydon, Surrey. UK
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by glass and jewellery. When my husband bought home an old enamelling kiln from a junk shop, I quickly became seduced by the compelling combination of colour and texture that can be achieved with enamels. Blending and shading different enamels to build up veils of colour in order to convey mood and feeling, never fails to provoke a feeling of excitement and anticipation, as no two pieces are ever completely identical. Each piece develops over a succession of firings, typically anything from six to more than a dozen. I use a variety of techniques ranging from traditional skills like cloisonné and champlevé to more experimental techniques I have developed using sgraffito and liquid enamels. I welcome commissions and will be delighted to discuss with you the designing and making of a special piece.
Inspiration comes from the vibrant colours and spectacular architecture that I saw in India, and the natural world, particularly pebbles and fossils. I interpret these in a contemporary way with simple lines and shapes for the 21st century.
I am a member of the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen, the Guild of Enamellers and the British Society of Enamellers.
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.
