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    • J. M. Jewellery & Design

      Inspired by the native flora of Tasmania

    • About

      Hand crafted one-off pieces of wearable nature

      inspired by the unique foliage of the Tasmanian wilderness

      Inspiration

       

      It has long been a tendency of mine, as of so many others, to spend time in nature; in movement or in stillness, and always in the spirit of contemplation. It is a place that allows me to take in beauty as if by osmosis; a place to rest one’s mind in the ‘peace of wild things’ (to employ the poetic phrasing of Wendell Berry).

      From the simple elegance of a blade of grass to the dendritic complexity of the deciduous beech, my work reflects the natural world in which I find myself.

      I work with Tasmanian native flora, most notably fagus beech, myrtle beech, celery top pine, huon pine and bracken fern. Each leaf or twig is individually cast in sterling silver or bronze, and crafted into a piece of jewellery in response to the line, shape and texture of the original form.

       

      The Process of Making

       

      The first step in making a piece cast leaf jewellery is to collect the leaves themselves. Most of the Tasmanian native species I work with, such as the celery top pine, Huon pine, and nothofagus (beech) varieties, exist only in the sub-alpine areas of the Tasmanian forests, from where I collect small batches of leaves every few weeks.

      In preparation for the casting process I paint the back of each leaf with melted bee's wax for thickness and strength - the front of the leaf remains untouched. The leaves are then sent to a foundry where they are magically transformed into bronze or sterling silver through a lost wax casting process - a practice of metal fabrication which has existed for over 6000 years - forming a once only rendering of each leaf.

      The now metal leaves are then sent back to me, sprues, stems and plaster remnants attached. The results are often surprising - I'm never quite sure what I will be working with over the next few weeks. Each leaf is unique, and each series of designs is an intuitive response to the small groups leaves I collected from the forest just a few days before.

      It is a satisfying process that keeps the act of making a creative venture, and reflects a direct relationship with place.

       

       

    • Shop

      Below are some one-off pieces I have in stock and ready to go

      Please contact me for more information or requests

      All
      Fern
      Pencil pine
      Fagus beech
      Myrtle beech
      Celery top pine
      Earrings
      Necklace
      Brooch
      Myrtle beech curled leaf pendant
      Buy now
      Myrtle beech curled leaf pendant
      145.00
      Celery top pine thread earrings
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      Celery top pine thread earrings
      95.00
      Fagus beech necklace
      Out of Stock
      Buy now
      Fagus beech necklace
      210.00
      Myrtle twig pendant
      Buy now
      Myrtle twig pendant
      130.00
      Bracken fern stud earrings
      Buy now
      Bracken fern stud earrings
      145.00
      Fagus beech thread earrings
      Buy now
      Fagus beech thread earrings
      110.00
      Fagus beech two leaved necklace
      Buy now
      Fagus beech two leaved necklace
      160.00
      Fagus beech bronze leaf necklace
      Buy now
      Fagus beech bronze leaf necklace
      145.00
      Mytle leaf two twig pendats
      Buy now
      Mytle leaf two twig pendats
      145.00
      Bracken fern necklace
      Buy now
      Bracken fern necklace
      145.00
      Celery top pine single leaf pendant
      Buy now
      Celery top pine single leaf pendant
      110.00
      Celery top pine two leaved pendant
      Buy now
      Celery top pine two leaved pendant
      140.00
      Celery top pine two leaved pendant
      Buy now
      Celery top pine two leaved pendant
      130.00
      Myrtle twig hoop necklace
      Buy now
      Myrtle twig hoop necklace
      170.00
      Celery top pine silver leaf necklace
      Buy now
      Celery top pine silver leaf necklace
      125.00
      Celery top pine silver bar brooch
      Buy now
      Celery top pine silver bar brooch
      170.00
      Four leaf celery top pine brooch
      Buy now
      Four leaf celery top pine brooch
      210.00
      Pencil pine nacklace
      Buy now
      Pencil pine nacklace
      160.00
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