All jewellery, except rings perhaps, have a functional element along with their obviously aesthetic one; earrings have posts and wires, brooches have pins, and necklaces and bracelets have clasps. There are few things that can be done with ear wires to make them different; they can be longer or thicker or more curved like these, but that’s about it. Brooch …
Whether you’re designing a meal, a tower block, or a ring, your inspiration has to come from somewhere and finding the source of this inspiration is really interesting. Take this little vine ring, for example. All the way back in 1978 Polly was making beautiful pieces in 18ct gold with heavenly and precious gems. Our parents were living in Italy …
A very clever little magpie niece of mine in Kenya (also a Polly Gasston!) inspired my next idea for research because she takes full advantage of the wonderful tropical wood at her disposal and makes interesting, wearable and unique jewellery with it, and it made me think about what people were using for jewellery before the discovery and passion for …
When I was in Rome I bought these little earrings for nearly no money because they’re imitation Etruscan coins set in silver, and I just loved them. When I got home and showed them to Polly she said, before I could, ‘oh, let’s make some!’. So we got hold of our lovely and very reliable coin dealer in London who …
Ever since my fledgling Magpie days – quite a long time ago now – I’ve been captivated by enamelling in jewellery, probably subconsciously ignited by this thimble Polly made when she was a student and I was a junior at school. The colours, the light, the intricacy – everything. The idea of painting a beautiful picture with glass really caught …
This week the first ever virtual Goldsmiths’ Fair will begin, and this itself is a huge milestone in the long and illustrious history of not only the Goldsmiths’ Fair but of the Goldsmiths’ Company. It seems like a good time, then, to look at the history of the company and the Fair and see the other momentous changes it’s been …
When Polly was a student training at John Cass in London the style of her work was greatlly influenced by various jewellers, the most prominet of whom was Dorrie Nossiter probably because, as a young Magpie, Polly used to play with Mum’s jewellery in which there were two pieces by this marvellous woman, and it must have made a huge …
Apropos of absolutly nothing I suddenly decided I needed toe rings, so I carved a pair in wax, got them cast in silver (just to test – gold will follow depending on their success…) and then had them beautifully finished with soft edges. I slipped (forced, actually) them on to my toes and completely love them, and while all this …
In 2012, the year of the Queen’s diamond jubilee and the year the Olympics were held in London, Polly was commissioned by the World Gold Council to make a wreath. This was a dream come true because she’d always wanted to make one, but as they’re not the hottest selling item in the jewellery world, she’d never had a reason …
I was prompted to look into the phenomenon of men and jewellery because in a book I’m reading that’s set in ancient Rome, four rings were taken from the hand of a dead senator and dropped in the Tiber (getting rid of identifying objects, of course…). All through the book I read that the Emperor wore a wreath and a …
