GORSE

ONE-OF-A-KIND | JEWELRY

Choker Neckpiece | Description Goes Here | 75mm width; 110mm top diameter, 135mm bottom diameter. convert dimensions to inches

The Gorse neckpiece, and other jewelry in the Gorse Series, are named after a prickly bush with dark branches and yellow flowers that grows in the Scottish Highlands, near a place I lived some time ago. Like flowers moving in the wind, capturing the eye as they reflect light, the shimmering gold appears and disappears form sight as the pieces are worn, creating a kinetic effect.

Although the Gorse necklace is a one-of-a-kind choker/necklace, the work truly is unique because of the material used: it is a type of stainless steel mesh that is knitted, instead of woven. The material is derived from stainless steel wire, which has a variety of industrial applications. My interest in using the repurposed material is centered on creating modern and timeless pieces of jewelry through the marriage of industrial and precious metals, and methods that combine manufacturing and handcrafted processes.

The body of the Gorse pieces is made out of stainless steel knitted wire mesh treated with a dark patina. I individually hand forged  the shimmering gold elements out of 14K or 18K yellow gold. The choker closure (HERA™) is also of my own proprietary design, and is fabricated out of sterling silver with an oxidized finish.