Parallel worlds | Parallel works

Inspired by the marvellous Mari Ishikawa’s book “Parallel worlds” (2011, Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst e.V.),  I’ve tried to compare different kind of contemporary jewels to ancient and modern work of arts, mostly taken from the figurative arts. A sort dialogue between past and future and a consideration about the concept of how and how much we’re indebted to the past.

I’ve considered the works of three artists: Mari Ishikawa,  Maria Rosa Franzin and Judy McCaig: I really love their works and I focused on what reminds to the memories of the past: here’s my personal sketchbook on brooches, a truly beloved piece that I consider a little small world.

MARI ISHIKAWA | LUCAS VAN LEYDEN

M. Ishikawa, Brooch, silver, 2011

Lucas van Leyden, Ornament with two tendrils, Engraving, 1509 ca

When i saw Ishikawa’s brooch I had no doubt: suddely my mind took wing to a wll known destination: 16th century’s Leyden. Lucas van Leyden’s engravings were well known at his time (he lived in Leyden until his death in 1533)  and he mastered this technique magically: his silver shades are still a masterpiece.

MARIAROSA FRANZIN | PIET MONDRIAAN

Piet Mondriaan, Red Tree, Grey Tree, Apple Tree (from 1908 to 1913)

M.R. Franzin, “Albero”, brooch, 2005, gold, silver, coral

I do love this piece: an extremely polished silver-gold surface hides and offers, at the same time, a red coral tree. As a promise of an inner passion, the coral stands out in its (only in appearance) precarious balance. And even if you can detect the tiny movements of the tree, the whole piece reminds you to an exquisite sense of harmony made by lines, colors, surfaces.

JUDY McCAIG| GIUSTO DE’ MENABUOI / GLYPTIC

J. McCaig, “Sun”, perspex, paint, gold leaf, silver, tombac, 2011

Giusto de’ Menabuoi, Annunciazione, Padova, Basilica del Santo, 1382

This piece was presented last year in Padua at the first edition of the Mario Pinton International Award for contemporary jewellery and even if it’s formerly inspired by Giusto de’ Menabuoi’s frescoes at the Basilica del Santo (1382), the oval form recalls to the ancient roman and renaissance glyptic…which always had  admirers and connoisseurs through the centuries till our days.

Judy McCaig, Brooches

Giovanni Bernardi, The punishment of Tytus, rock-crystal intaglio, (1530?) British Museum

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engraved_gem

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Tassie