Three years ago I had no idea into which direction my design career would go. The only thing I did know, was that I did not want to spend the second part of my life behind a computer screen. Also I should use what I’d learned so far. My THNK-coach said: “Think BIG; a helicopter platform next to your studio.” After spending some time at the Rijksmuseum thinking about becoming a painter, I bumped into their small jewelry selection and those strange lamb-pearl earrings. I decided to design jewelry with hidden messages/metaphors and functional medical jewelry. Photo Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images Earrings Lamb on the book with seven seals, c . 1580, Rijksmuseum

I’ve turned from graphic designer into goldsmith! This is my final piece for school, which took me months to prepare. The necklace is quite slick, due to the school’s objectives. The leaves of the clovers are casted separately in sand, as were the lips, the daffodil, and the little balls for the lock. After soldering (and adding a black diamond), all polished over & over again. Originally, all pieces were made in 1st grade silver. I decided to have everything covered in 18k gold, which turned out so cheap-looking, so I lacquered the pieces that should stay gold and rhodium-dipped the rest. I’m happy. I design in gold!

This is the end of The Motor; my new company will be called: NARCIS & GOLDMUND

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Whitewash silver rings with a stamped and oxidized ’55’ for two divorced best friends, celebrating their birthdays and regained freedom.

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Trying out eyes for a sweet client’s pendant.

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Important for this work is the pre-explosive waiting before the making, like Max Verstappen at the start of a race. According to the intellectual artist (1947-2015) “The highest form of thinking should remain passive while acting.” He meant that after you’ve given a meaning to a piece (concept), it should be created effortless in the best materials. Because even materials accrete meaning (he only used 22K gold). So the golden object is the physical metaphor for the concept. L: Sleeping God (God Pan represented as a phallus in coral with three nymphs (diamonds). R: Highest Activity – Widest Passivity (rocking chair on a bed of planar surfaces). Jewelry Manfred Bischoff

PS Apologies for the low res images

Finishing touch of the signetring I posted June 16th: I’ve added a gold collar and blackened the silver dog. While polishing the very tiny collar, I almost lost my thumb in the machine.

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I loved my ‘kleine oma’ (little grandma). My mother gave me her wedding ring (reading J.d.K.) to melt and create something new. But I loved this memory of my grandparents, and decided to turn this 14k ring inside out. The outside is sandpapered, the inside high gloss. And I gave it back.

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Sand-covered stool – made of found objects like cardboard and rubber bands. Design Thomas Ballouhey

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Most of the time it takes me days-to-weeks to make a special piece of jewelry. This is a ‘quick & dirty’ attempt to create cheap jewelry with real 18k gold, nice light grey pearls and blackened silver.

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Fantastic and huge braided fair-trade hammock from Nepal. Add a perfect version of the famous aria from Porgy and Bess (Gershwin) by Willie Nelson or this one by Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, heavenly! Store Sukha