Unexpected Pleasures

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curated contemporary jewellery

Style with substance

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This month the Design Museum has opened its exhibition 'Unexpected Pleasures' celebrating the work of contemporary jewellers.

Taking inspiration from the exhibition, which highlights the relationship between the maker and the wearer, we've been chatting to contemporary jewellery boutique owner Sarah Raffel and jewellery designer Leah Singh.

We've also curated a collection of wow factor jewellery perfect for the Christmas party season. From ornate earrings to attention-grabbing necklaces - this is contemporary jewellery at its most wearble.

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'UNEXPECTED PLEASURES' AT THE DESIGN MUSEUM

The Design Museum's upcoming exhibition 'Unexpected Pleasures' presents the world’s most surprising works of contemporary jewellery and
challenges the conventional function of jewellery as a symbol of status, sentimentality and taste.

This exhibition celebrates jewellery from the point of view of both the maker and the wearer. It considers the pleasures of wearing jewellery and the many meanings associated with jewellery which are at times unexpected.

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'I am hoping that this exhibition will encourage cross fertilization between the diverse contemporary jewellery scene and the design profession'.

'Also this exhibition presents contemporary jewellery to a new audience, one that is interested in design. I also hope that people will leave this exhibition with a greater awareness of contemporary jewellery, and how they wear objects'.

Susan Cohn, Curator - 'Unexpeced Pleasures - The Art and Design of Contemporary Jewellery'.

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Brazen Jewellery founder,

Sarah Raffel Q&A

What does the phrase 'contemporary jewellery' mean to you?

'Contemporary jewellery, for me, describes makers and designers who explore often very personal worlds to create their pieces'.

'It can define a designers background, heritage or culture and while jewellery is often associated with beauty, can explore dark, erotic or more harrowing themes'.

'Ultimately, it should describe jewellery that tells more of a story'.

The Design Museum's exhibition highlights the relationship between maker and wearer - do you think this is important?

'Absolutely. The work starts of being a personal response and embodies a designer / makers emotional response to the world around them'.

'It begins with their interpretation of ideas or form however this transposes
differently when that item becomes a personal item of the wearer'.

'An item which is worn close to that person or is indeed given / received under an entirely different set of circumstances thus given the piece a different context and meaning'.

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In conversation with jewellery designer

Leah Singh

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR COLLECTION

'My goal with my jewellery collection is to rejuvenate the age-old craft of bone carving, which became an alternative for ivory when ivory was banned. I instantly fell in love with the material- it is a by-product of the local farming industry of India, it is environmentally sustainable and has endless possibilities- what's not to love?!'

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

'My inspiration comes from architecture and geometry, Carlo Scarpa and Tadao Ando. It also comes from the artisans I work with- being around them and seeing them work with their hands'.