SHIMARA CARLOW
ABOUT THE DESIGNER:
Born in a remote coastal area in West Cork, Southern Ireland in 1979,
a childhood fascination for collecting shells, stones, mermaids purses’,
feathers and pods found along the sea shore has been the inspiration
for my work.
While studying at Glasgow School of Art, I experimented with hand made
paper and silver as mediums for creating large sculptural pieces of
jewellery and smaller silversmithing pieces. My work has always been very
tactile and organic and the use of paper enhances this tactility and also
brings a light translucent quality to the pieces.
I began a residency at Bishopsland Workshops in South Oxfordshire in 2002,
where I spent two years. I used the opportunity to experiment with larger
scale silversmithing and to develop a range of silver and 18ct gold jewellery.
My silversmithing range is all based on pod vessels; I create small and large
pod vessels, bowls, vases and tableware. I use fine silver and 24ct gold to
create these pieces, which are all hand raised, from flat sheets of metal.
I use hammers and mallets to add surface texture and decoration to the
pieces, and acid to take the silver surface back to its natural white state.
The vessels are constructed to be free standing and off centre, giving them
a fluid natural quality.
Following a recent trip to Australia, I have created new ranges of both
silversmithing and jewellery inspired by my visit. These include “gum nut”;
clusters of small pod and leaf vessels using 18ct gold, fine silver, oxidised
silver and gold plate.
My jewellery has been inspired by natural forms, primarily seedpods and I
have created a body of work based on pod like structures. I use silver,
18 carat gold, silk paper and gum nuts to create my jewellery. Collections
include “Daisy”, Acorn Cup”, ” Acorn Cup Wrap” and “Silver Acorn Cup Wrap”.
These pieces are constructed from individual acorn cup and daisy units
assembled to create both large and small scale pieces of jewellery. The cups
are assembled to hang in long articulated chains or set in to intricate wire
structures that adorn the body.
New jewellery collections include “gum nut”, neckpieces, rings and earrings
constructed from both silver and real gum nuts; “picture”, a selection of
pendants and brooches using wrapped wire and small acorn cups assembled
in a silver frame; “honesty”, whitened and reticulated silver ovals, which
resemble honesty leaves, constructed in to long articulated neckpieces and
bracelets. I have also developed both my silver and my 18 carat gold
“wrap rings” to include precious stones such as diamonds, pink sapphire,
aquamarine and pink and green tourmaline.