Christchurch is home to a thriving community of jewellers producing stunning pieces for every occasion, from engagement and wedding rings to precious gifts for very precious people. The artisan jewellers at three of the city’s leading practices – Via Sollertia, The Filing Kabinett and Sophie Divett Jewellery – tell Cityscape where they find inspiration, how they got started and how hard it can be sometimes to let a piece go.

The Filing Kabinett

How would you describe your jewellery style? Our style is contemporary leaning towards art jewellery. Important for us are uniqueness and good design. We use traditional materials such as gold and silver along with a variety of other precious and non-precious materials.

Where do you find inspiration? Inspiration comes from many sources, whether it be from specific investigations of an idea or something we have observed during our day-to-day travels. Lynn often finds inspiration in the botanical world and in Elfi’s latest solo show she questioned the definition of preciousness and explored the hidden beauty of bone. For Jeremy, the design process often starts with materials like native stones but he is also inspired by the simplicity of Scandinavian aesthetic.

What are you working on at the moment? We have a travelling exhibition of work, which is currently on display at Gallery Thirty Three in Wanaka. This is work that the three of us have made in reponse to our various interpretations of its title, SCALE.

Commissions or your own creations – do you have a preference? Both have their place in our practice. We love using our creativity to develop our own designs but it is also satisfying to create a unique piece of jewellery for clients. Throughout the year we are constantly producing new work to add to our collections.

Apart from your own, whose jewellery do you love? Within New Zealand we love Craig McIntosh’s stone work but also Warwick Freeman and Jane Dodd, plus the exciting work of a variety of international jewellery artists.

How did you come to be a jeweller? We have all had thorough training at various institutions and other workshops around the world. Elfi trained in Germany at the Jewellery Akademy in Pforzheim, Jeremy trained in Dunedin and with jeweller Jens Hansen in Nelson, and Lynn in Whanganui and as a partner in Fluxus, in Dunedin.

What’s the best thing about the job? We love the fact that we spend our days being creative and making jewellery, plus we enjoy the atmosphere in the workshop. The three of us have a great shared sense of humour.

Any pieces you are particularly proud of? Any work that makes it to the point of being displayed in the gallery or an exhibition has gone through a process of design, creation and critique. Whenever someone falls in love with a piece of our work and we see it walk out of the gallery, we are always proud.

What was the last piece you made that you couldn’t bear to part with? The parting with a piece is not always the problem, what is particularly satisfying is when the design process has been well resolved or the client’s brief has been met. There are often pieces that we have a special connection to, whether it be because of the materials used or just the end design being unique – these are difficult to let go of.

How does it feel when you are out and you see someone wearing your work? It is always a big compliment to see our work being worn. It feels like the jewellery is doing its job.

Who would you love to see wearing one of your pieces? It would be awesome to see a big collector such as Madeleine Albright (former US diplomat) wear one of our pieces. Apparently she has a great understanding of contemporary jewellery and has been collecting for years.

When you are not making beautiful jewellery, what do you love to do? Walking the fourth member of the workshop, Ruby, our 10-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog.

elfispiewack.com
lynnkelly.co.nz
jeremyleeming.com