Sirens Attache Brighter - Holding Place

Materials: Brass and gemstones
Dimensions: 200 x 150mm

Locket in photo etched Brass with inset gemstones.

Annabelle Lucilla Hastings
The Cass
London, UK

Annabelle Graduated from The Cass (London) last year and since then has gone on to set up her own Jewellery business with commissions and shows already in progress. Including all her events the Crafts Council’s Hothouse programme has selected Annabelle as one of the brightest new craft talents from across the UK providing her with a tailor-made six-month programme of creative and business support.

Of her work she states;
'Sirens, Mermaids and Mystical Goddesses…This collection captures the essence of portable precious items with particular influence from the epic poem The Odyssey. Odysseus voyages across turquoise oceans, encountering mythical creatures and magical sorceresses. These three vessels convey a magical and majestic style. Two Dimensional metal patterns create rich textures and combined with rich gold exotic illustrations, the lockets hold clusters of marine coloured gems. Searching for ways to transport precious items, this collection encompasses the need for luxurious vessels with a story to tell.

Using the Photo etching process, I translate my intricate graphics onto metallic surfaces creating rich exotic textures and depths. With great scope for expansion of portable lockets and vessels, this collection has narratives that can be translated into the modern day and which people can relate to and attach personal stories to. With removable gemstone inserts, people can also fill these beautiful vessels with precious tokens or special, personal items to keep with them at all times.

I make to commission and all my work can be made in both precious and non precious metals.'


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.