CRAFT in CONVERSATION

Ceramic artist Jeanette Adrienne Wee encounters the craftsmanship of Lock and HardWear jewellery.

- Tiffany & Co.

Jeanette wears Tiffany & Co. HardWear Graduated Link necklace and bracelet in yellow gold.

Tiffany & Co. HardWear Graduated Link necklace in yellow gold with pavé diamonds.

The beauty of craftsmanship often finds echoes across different fields and practices. So it is when the ceramic artist Jeanette Adrienne Wee encountered the fine jewellery icons of Tiffany & Co. The realms of earthen clay and gleaming gold may seem far apart, but they share common qualities. A tradition of handwork; a delicate sense of line, shape and proportion; an abiding attention to detail; and the courage to explore new creative possibilities through artisanship and fine craftsmanship.

Tiffany & Co. Lock bangle in rose gold with full pavé diamonds.

For Wee, her ceramics practice is in a newfound space of experimentation and daring. But she holds that the fundamentals are immovable. Not breaking the rules per se, but continuing and creatively furthering them.

A first step like wedging, for example, is non-negotiable. This is where soft clay is kneaded by hand to remove air. Wee uses a spiral technique, learnt in Japan, where formless clay is kneaded into an almost nautiloid shape. Done before the material even reaches the wheel, this technique is a delicate process that gives the clay strength.