A COLLE CTOR’ S VIEW
and when it was purchased. Drawing makes me look carefully at the piece as I have a fascination with how
I have had a fascination with jewellery since childhood,
things are made.The back of each object should be as
and remember sitting with my grandmother rooting
well made as the front. Equally, I am careful about how I
through her jewellery box and being transfixed by the
keep my jewellery and store it in handmade wooden
bright shiny things.When I was about ten years old I
boxes. I do, however, always wear the jewellery.
begged my mother for a little silver bangle, but she said I
I first encountered Guy’s work about sixteen years
would only lose it. Eventually she gave in and I still have it
ago at a gallery in Farnham, Surrey. For many years I had
to this day. About forty years ago I started collecting jewellery. In
known the work of his mentor, Breon O’Casey, and have a small amount of his jewellery and paintings. It was about
the 1960s, when in my twenties, I wore large brightly
this time that Breon had handed on the mantle of
coloured geometric plastic jewellery, as was the fashion. A
jewellery making to Guy, who took this on and made it
little later I started buying a few handmade silver pieces
his own. I instantly fell in love with Guy’s work, and over
by contemporary jewellers.Then followed a burst of
the years I have bought an enormous amount from
enthusiasm for ‘ethnic’ jewellery. I loved native North
various galleries. I have numerous silver necklaces and
American jewellery, particularly bangles and earrings
bangles, silver brooches and rings with gold detail and a
made of silver, with the additional allure of lapis and
vast amount of silver and stone earrings. His silver
turquoise stones. At that time I always wore lots of silver
brooches are like small paintings, either a geometric
bangles – that was, of course, until I discovered Guy’s
design with gold detail, or with an applied gold Braque/
work. From then on I have always worn a large bangle of
Picasso bird.There is also a Celtic symbolism about his
his on each wrist. In 1980 I met my second husband, a photographer,
designs, and there seems to be tribal and African/Egyptian influences too. His work would not look out of place
who shared my interest in art and architecture.We were
amongst the artefacts in the British Museum. His work is
constantly visiting art galleries and design studios together,
timeless.
and we began collecting paintings and various artworks. It
What I love about Guy’s work is the boldness and the
was from this period that my contemporary jewellery
simplicity of his designs. Also, I like his generosity of
collection escalated.
materials, especially his profligacy in the amount of silver
I keep catalogues and articles on jewellery, ceramics
he uses. I really like the marks left by his hammer beating
and art. I also keep a ‘diary’ on the jewellery I buy, drawing
of the silver, as I always want to see the hand of the
each piece with a note of its materials, and from where
maker whether it be in jewellery or ceramics.
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