A Thousand Facets

A thousand facets sits with Sian Evans, Jewellery designer, goldsmith and lapidarist. We talked about her beginnings in the jewelry industry, her 15 years creating her production line, then change to be a lecturer and Central Saint Martins and going back to her roots in the goldsmiths work to create a more thoughtful, slow collection!

Hope you enjoy our conversation.

About:

Sian’s work is inspired by interests in archaeology, fashion, geology, nature and sustainable technologies with a deep interest in storytelling. Her many jewellery collections over her career have taken some very different forms, stemming from ideas, ethics and heuristics. Some fashion lead, some materials lead and some process lead. Each of her collections in the last decade have been explorations of process in a long term project about sustainable working practices : Learning a jewellery technology, often, an ancient technology with a low carbon footprint, using recycled or found precious materials, then designing and making collections of jewels that incorporate these. This is her modus operandi and an act of reverence for our skilled, ingenious ancestors.

She studied jewellery design, silversmithing and goldsmithing from 1982-86 at The Cass ( City of London Polytechnic - now London Metropolitan University ) In her Summer breaks she worked as a volunteer archaeologist in Dorset. Her first studio was established the year she graduated in 1986, in Spitalfields, London. In the ensuing years she designed and created in this first studio, the biannual collections shown at London, Paris and New York fashion weeks that she became known for. Then from her next larger studio, in Clerkenwell, close to Londons jewellery quarter Hatton Garden, she worked producing collections at the bench alongside her small team of craftspeople. These early collections sold internationally to many stockists and galleries, winning her export and design awards. During this period she was commissioned by designers including Jo Casely-Hayford and Paul Smith, to create lines for them, and by Costume designers for film and TV productions. Her work was regularly seen in the pages of newspapers, glossy magazines and on the ears and necks of TV and film stars.

For 13 years she was Senior Lecturer at BA Jewellery Design, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts. Her research focus: Sustainability and mining , Neolithic and Bronze age technology. Lithics and metalworking

She left UAL at the end of 2014 to return to and pursue her design and creative practice.

Since reestablishing her practice she has won several awards and accolades :

Most notably, her work is in the V & A collection, she has exhibited and sold her work at Sotheby’s. She is a Homo Faber Master Artisan. A Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust ( QEST ) grant in 2022 helped to extend her lapidary study, into the wonderful and ancient arts of Intaglio and Cameo carving . She has won a number of awards from the Goldsmiths Design and Craft Awards in different categories ranging from major design awards to awards for craft skills in lapidary.

For the past few years she has presented her work annually at The Goldsmiths Fair, in 2024 she was selected by The Goldsmiths Fair and QEST to exhibit at Collect .

You can follow Sian Evans on Instagram @sianevansjewellery , visit her website

https://www.sejewellery.com/

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

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A thousand facets sits with Nia Tahani from Gem Corps. They talk about her beginnings in the jewelry industry, how she fell in love with

state jewelry and how events in history have created the path she has taken!

We talked about the inception of the  Sweet CHAIRiot and the history of Blackamoor jewelry!

Since the Montgomery Melee, the folding chair has expanded even further into the realm of social justice memorabilia. Sweet CHAIRiot is an antique-inspired and culturally informed pendant designed by The Gem Corps, fine estate jewelry curators. It's a symbol of resistance and remembrance for the freedom fighters, justice reformers, and those who claim...

About:

Since 2015 The Gem Corps has been a pursuit of a passion for fine jewelry and storytelling. The allure of estate jewelry-antique, vintage, & modern-is inherent in its qualities of fine craftspersonship, its one-of-a-kind nature, the history, and sustainability. There’s a certain magic to these pieces that transcends time and yet so powerfully reconnects us to our history and each other.

You can follow Nia Tahan on Instagram @gemcorps , visit her website

www.gemcorps.com

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

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A thousand facets sits with Jared Amadeo Holstein from D'amadeo and they talk about his beginnings as a journalist, when he caught the jewelry bug and how he ended up in the world of diamonds and gemstones. We discuss different aspects of the gemstone industry and what makes a natural gemstone so special!

D’Amadeo is a San Francisco-based loose colored stone, natural diamond and estate jewelry wholesaler. With a focus on known-source gemstones, primarily mined in the United States and East Africa, D’Amadeo enables jewelers and designers to share each stone’s journey from mine to finger with their customers. Antique, historical-cut and post-consumer gemstones from the Georgian period onward elicit wonder.

You can follow Jared Amadeo Holstein on Instagram @damadeo_ , visit his website

www.damadeo.com

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

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A thousand facets sits with Rebecca Overmann and Lauren Wolf of Melee the show about how they met, the inception to Melee the show and the community of independent artists they've created!

Hope you enjoy this great conversation.

About:

Founded in 2017 by jewelry designers and friends Rebecca Overmann and Lauren Wolf, MELEE THE SHOW was born out of the need to connect designers and buyers in an environment as beautiful as the pieces on display. Fine jewelry was long overdue for its own place in the tradeshow world; one that could cater to the level of attention that both designers and buyers desired.

MELEE is a highly curated, personal trade show experience with yearly events in Tucson, NYC, and Paris. Inside is an intimate setting showcasing a carefully selected roster of fine jewelry designers with a focus on aesthetic and skill. The show is committed to staying small and selective to the industry’s top talent and leading brands. We believe this environment encourages designers and buyers to engage with each other over new collections in a meaningful way.

If you want to visit the show (trade only, or would like to showcase, please visit their website at www.meleetheshow.com

You can follow them on Instagram @meleetheshow

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

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A thousand facets seats with Judi Powers and they discuss her beginnings in the publishing world and how jewelry became her second

act and inspiring her to continue discovering herself as a creative individual!

Hope you enjoy this great conversation.

About:

My inspiration is all around us. The graceful undulation of a ripple in a pond. The curve of a leaf as it reaches for the sun. The branching silhouette of a dendritic agate. The delicate colors of the first blooms of Spring.

To take the hardness of gems and metal and make them soft, I’ve spent hours at the workbench, carving, filing, buffing and refining the surface until I’ve achieved my signature Cashmere Finish.® I want everything I create to have the timeless elegance of a cashmere sweater, which inspires the soft texture of my metals. The matte gold gathers and disperses light until it seems like you can feel it glowing through your fingertips.

In a world where we interact through images and screens, I want my jewelry to make you want to reach out to hold it. Sense the gold warming in your hands. Run your fingers over the soft finish. Marvel at the beautiful forms and subtle shading of the gems and minerals. Experience the intimate luxury of a beautiful object, crafted by hand, designed to last.

That’s why after a career in publishing I fell in love with the joy, meaning and purpose of the art of jewelry. Enjoying the quiet concentration of working with my hands, carving wax and shaping metal. Contemplating the beauty of gems and finding inspiration. Embodying the joy and meaning of the special moments of your life in every design. Finding purpose in creating work that instantly becomes part of you, carrying with it the pleasure of its making, from my hands to yours.

You can follow Judi Powers on Instagram @judipowers, visit her website

www.judipowersjewelry.com

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

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A thousand facets seats with Liz Kantner and Robin Kramer to talk about the Curated at Luxury lifestyle at NY Now. We talked what it is to do a trade show and what are the things artists should look when deciding to do a show, We invited three artists that are doing the show, returning artists Hilary Finck and Tamsin Rasor and newcomer Laurie Reed.

I hope you enjoy our conversation.

For more information about Curated at Luxury lifestyle at NY Now

Please email Liz: [email protected]

Robin: [email protected]

If you want to see the work of the artists featured please visit:

https://hilaryfinck.com/

https://tamsinrasor.com/

https://www.francesreidstudios.com/

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the

work discussed in this episode.

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A thousand facets sits with Hayden Peters from Art of mourning and we get an education on different aspects of mourning jewelry, how it became popular, which queen made it a thing and how it brought so many trends during that time period! Don't miss this educational and highly entertaining conversation!

About:

Hayden Peters is a Jewellery Historian, Scholar and Designer.

An authority on the topic of mourning and sentimental

jewellery, Hayden founded the Art of Mourning (www.artofmourning.com)

in 2005 as his teaching platform to share knowledge and educate about this

important part of history between the years 1517-1920. The website reaches

thousands of international students and collectors daily, with over 800

articles detailing the history of early-modern society, politics, design and

fashion.

Hayden has appeared on television, appeared in

international publications, museum installations and written for academic

publications. 

You can follow Art of Mourning on Instagram @artofmourning,

visit his website

https://artofmourning.com/

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the

work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

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A thousand facets sits with Camilla Bronzini and Francesca Neri Serneri from Le Sibille, we speak about their inspiration, their passion and about the importance of keeping the tradition of micro mosaic alive. As you may listen in this conversation, I was really excited to talk to them!

ABOUT:

Le Sibille’s journey to revive the ancient Small Roman Mosaic goldsmith technique by crafting one-of-a-kind handmade jewels.

Those magical, microscopic tiles created with a spinning technique are now found in the one-of-a-kind jewels made by Le Sibille. Both artisans and artists, Le Sibille dedicates a considerable amount of time to each jewel – much like they did in times past. And each tile is placed on an 18K gold base by hand. The mosaics are reproductions of Greek, Roman, early Christian, Byzantine, Renaissance, Baroque, Islamic and Asian art. Along with their micro-mosaic collection, Le Sibille boasts two other collections. The more recent, I Giganti, wich features colored stones, and Lilliput, an original interpretation of modern jewelry.

You can follow Le Sibille on Instagram @lesibille, visit their website

www.lesibille.it/

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

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A thousand facets sits with award winning artist Karin Jacobson and they talk about her education, her beginnings as an apprentice of a jeweler in Minnesota and how she develop her brand! Hope you enjoy this fun conversation!

About:

I began my jewelry journey in 2000 with the launch of my flagship collection at the world-renowned Walker Art Center. Within two years, I was selected as the Grand Winner of the prestigious AJDC New Talent Competition, which helped establish my jewelry as a national brand. Today, I run my business from my sunny studio in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District – the epicenter of a vibrant community of makers.  

In partnership with my retailers, I am committed to meticulously crafted, beautiful art jewelry. Each piece is made personally by me in my Minneapolis studio, using ethically sourced materials, such as recycled metals and gemstones that are fair trade, recycled, domestically sourced, or purchased from gem buyers who have direct relationships with miners from small, artisanal mines. I have also recently become Fairmined™ licensed and have a new collection in Fairmined™ 18K yellow gold!

My current collection is inspired by Origami. These designs push the boundaries of traditional jewelry to become small-scale wearable sculpture. I developed my folding technique to create pieces that have a graceful fluidity and big visual impact, but which are also lightweight and comfortable to wear.

You can follow Karin on Instagram @karinjacobsonjewelry, visit her website

www.karinjacobson.com

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

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A thousand facets sits with Baiyang Qiu and they talk about her education as an industrial designer before she was accepted to SCAD. How a dandelion was a catalyst to her voice and her journey to be the incredible artist she is now!

This conversation is truly delightful!

About:

“Inspired by nature and its beautiful forms, I use extremely fine gauge wire of high karat gold and platinum to bring my designs to life. Whether it be a tiny raindrop gliding down a leaf or a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, vine-like wire work becomes a three-dimensional line drawing that captures transitory moments to preserve them in timeless jewelry pieces.  The subjective relationship between my work and the body is part of this dichotomy, and jewelry is the medium to present my perspective to the wearer.”

You can follow Baiyang on Instagram @baiyangjewelry, visit her website

https://baiyangjewelry.com/

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

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