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The Melting Pot is a conglomeration of all jewelry making facets today and in the yesteryears before us.
A publication by Qompendium in collaboration with Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim.

Die Mysterien der Zeichen. Johannes Reuchlin, Schmuck, Schrift & Sprache

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The Delicate Flower Takes Center Stage in Exquisite Creations

The lily of the valley, with its delicate beauty and enchanting fragrance, has captured the hearts of many throughout history. This beloved flower has inspired artists, writers, and designers with its timeless charm and symbolism. In this article, we delve into the allure of the lily of the valley, exploring its rich history, cultural significance, and influence on various art forms.

Read more

Rare Etruscan Gold Earring Immortalized in Ambrotype

An exquisite Etruscan decorative disc, an ancient gold earring, has been returned to Italy from the Pforzheim Jewelry Museum and immortalized in an ambrotype by the Lightcatcher studio of Kurt Moser and Barbara Holzknecht. Measuring only 4.5 centimeters in diameter, the disc features intricate and finely detailed ornamentation composed of tiny gold globules arranged in intricate patterns and designs, showcasing the technical perfection and creative sophistication of the Etruscan goldsmith’s art.

Read more

Podcast: Artificial Intelligems

This episode features Sofie Boons, representing the British Academy of Jewelry (BAJ), in conversation with Anneleen Swillen and Greg Scheirlinckx, co-founders of the innovative ‘Artificial Intelligems’ collective. They delve into their work and research, exploring the advantages and potential hazards of AI, available tools, and how AI can be applied to the world of jewelry. Tune in to gain insights into the integration of machine learning in creative contexts and to contemplate the impact of our progressively digital future.

Read more

Of the Passion for Travelling and Collecting
Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim

Eva and Peter Herion, a collector couple from Pforzheim, Germany, traveled extensively to countries in Africa, the Far East, and the South Seas.

 

12 May  to 10 September 2023

Read more

Egyptian Eye from an Anthropoid Coffin

At death, any ruling king immediately became one with Osiris, while the king’s son, the living king, was identified with Horus, the god of the sky.

Read more

MARGIT JÄSCHKE KAIROS
Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim

The artist Margit Jäschke describes herself as a wanderer between art worlds. Transcending the boundaries of common genres, such as installation, painting, sculpture and art jewelry, she has created an oeuvre that is in a league of its own. Purposefully blurring the distinction between wearable pieces of jewelry and autonomous works of art, she emphasizes details that evoke different associations in different viewers. The exhibition will be showcasing the multifaceted and prize-winning oeuvre created by Margit Jäschke over the course of the past 30 years and will be accompanied by a catalogue published by Arnoldsche Art Publishers.

Read more

The Making of a Gold Rush Town

All it took was one serendipitous event in 1957 to uncover Bealiba in Victoria, Australia as a gold rush capital. What unravelled after the discovery morphed the sleepy town and influenced all aspects of life in the land down under, especially in terms of population, demography, economics, social hierarchy and popular culture.

Read more

The A to Z of Jewelry

The ABCs of the jewelry sphere, exploring precious and semi-precious gems, how diamonds are graded, the ins and outs of gold plating, gold filled and gold vermeil, as well as noble and base metals.

Read more

Pforzheim Revisited BERLIN
Twelve years of the eponymous scholarship programme

Embossing, pressing and guilloché engraving are techniques employed in manufactory-style jewelry production. Within the context of the “Pforzheim Revisited Berlin” semester project initiated in 2010, students of the Jewelry and Everyday Objects Design course at Pforzheim University are experiencing a new lease on life by using these techniques to create contemporary jewelry.  The project has been made possible by a collaboration with the German Museum of Technology in Berlin and the Technical Museum of Pforzheim’s Jewelry and Watchmaking Industries, with support from the C. Hafner company. The exhibition will be spotlighting the works created by the participants of the scholarship programme of the past twelve years.

Read more

All About Carats and Karats

Looking back at how diamonds, pearls and gold were sized up centuries ago and how they are measured and weighed up today.

Read more

Gemological Flora and Fauna

The parrot pendant has become a permanent resident at Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim as part of the Werner Wild Foundation’s generous donation on the occasion of its tenth anniversary. There is a spiritual undercurrent to the pendant, as the parrot, snail and white rabbit are iconographically linked with the Virgin Mary and are considered an expression of feminine virtues.

Read more

Aesthetics and Culture: The Difference Between Jewelry and Jewellery

When it comes to the world of fine jewelry, there is one question that has sparked debate among experts and enthusiasts alike: is it jewelry or jewellery?

Read more

Die Mysterien der Zeichen. Johannes Reuchlin, Schmuck, Schrift & Sprache

In commemoration of the 500th anniversary of Johannes Reuchlin’s passing, the Jewelry Museum of Pforzheim has released the art book “The Mysteries of Signs: Johannes Reuchlin, Jewelry, Writing, and Language,” which was published by Arnoldsche Art Publishers in Stuttgart.

Read more

A NEWLY ORDERED WORLD
Retrospective

The jewelry of Napoleon’s era was very different from that created before the French Revolution: it was more unobtrusive, but no less precious; rather, it was even more valuable.

Read more

Beetle and Flor Castor Canadensis
Enamel-Crystallized Fauna

Christine Facella casts unique works of art from the skulls of expired friends, including English bulldogs, the white-tailed deer, snapping turtle, American beaver, black ear and springbok. Each piece is expertly morphed into a porcelain keepsake, transforming the macabre into a beautiful memento mori.

 

Buy on Qompendium

Read more

Melting Pot

The new editorial home of Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim has taken the form of the Melting Pot digital platform, a conglomeration of all jewelry making facets today and in the yesteryears before us.

Read more

Gold Sandals and Toe Stalls

Egyptian finger and toe stalls fashioned from gold were common in the 18th Dynasty of Egypt and were used to protect the digits of the deceased during burial, especially from “magical dangers.”

Read more

Letizia Plankensteiner’s Imperfect Jewelry

Jewelr Letizia’s Plankensteiner’s atelier is located in the 6th district of Vienna on the scenic shopping street at Mariahilfer Straße.

This is where all the magic happens, so to say, as Plankensteiner puts her sculpting hands into high gear, spinning out sustainable gold and silver trinkets with their characteristic unfinished and raw beauty.

Melting Pot speaks with the sculptor-jewelr, who gives us a peek into her work process, background in jewelry making, atelier in the heart of Vienna and her go-to spots around the city.

Read more

Tokhtabayeva’s Modernist Talisman

Founded by Nigora Tokhtabayeva, Tabayer is a testament to the spiritual and cultural consciousness of jewelry combined with affinity to modernist American sculpture. Tabayer has a deep commitment to protecting the earth and its inhabitants, with jewelry pieces crafted from environmentally conscious and ethically sourced materials.

Read more

Christian Metzner Brandenburg
Porcelain and Borosilicate Bangles

A new take on porcelain and glass by Christian Metzner, a graduate in architecture and product design in Potsdam and, later, in garment technology at HTW Berlin. The handmade bangles are available in glazed white porcelain or in borosilicate glass, including silver, gold, bronze, or transparent.

Read more

The Cross, from the Ritualistic to Pop Culture

The cross has a number of iconographic representations from centuries past – from traditional crucifixes and Latin crosses to St. Peter’s cross, St. Philip’s cross, the Tau cross and others. It has also made its rounds in the art world and pop culture, appearing on Givenchy’s and Versace’s runways and music videos for the likes of Madonna and Katy Perry.

Read more

FROM TROY TO ROMAN EMPIRE
Retrospective

Eons ago jewelry was revered for its magical and mythical properties. It was regarded as an emblem of honor, fertility and hunting magic.

Read more

Finding Rubies in Northeast Mozambique

Cabo Delgado province in northeast Mozambique is home to 33,600 hectares of one of the most significant ruby deposits in the world.

Read more

The Delicate Flower Takes Center Stage in Exquisite Creations

The lily of the valley, with its delicate beauty and enchanting fragrance, has captured the hearts of many throughout history. This beloved flower has inspired artists, writers, and designers with its timeless charm and symbolism. In this article, we delve into the allure of the lily of the valley, exploring its rich history, cultural significance, and influence on various art forms.

Read more

Rare Etruscan Gold Earring Immortalized in Ambrotype

An exquisite Etruscan decorative disc, an ancient gold earring, has been returned to Italy from the Pforzheim Jewelry Museum and immortalized in an ambrotype by the Lightcatcher studio of Kurt Moser and Barbara Holzknecht. Measuring only 4.5 centimeters in diameter, the disc features intricate and finely detailed ornamentation composed of tiny gold globules arranged in intricate patterns and designs, showcasing the technical perfection and creative sophistication of the Etruscan goldsmith’s art.

Read more

Podcast: Artificial Intelligems

This episode features Sofie Boons, representing the British Academy of Jewelry (BAJ), in conversation with Anneleen Swillen and Greg Scheirlinckx, co-founders of the innovative ‘Artificial Intelligems’ collective. They delve into their work and research, exploring the advantages and potential hazards of AI, available tools, and how AI can be applied to the world of jewelry. Tune in to gain insights into the integration of machine learning in creative contexts and to contemplate the impact of our progressively digital future.

Read more

Of the Passion for Travelling and Collecting
Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim

Eva and Peter Herion, a collector couple from Pforzheim, Germany, traveled extensively to countries in Africa, the Far East, and the South Seas.

 

12 May  to 10 September 2023

Read more

Aesthetics and Culture: The Difference Between Jewelry and Jewellery

When it comes to the world of fine jewelry, there is one question that has sparked debate among experts and enthusiasts alike: is it jewelry or jewellery?

Read more

Egyptian Eye from an Anthropoid Coffin

At death, any ruling king immediately became one with Osiris, while the king’s son, the living king, was identified with Horus, the god of the sky.

Read more

Die Mysterien der Zeichen. Johannes Reuchlin, Schmuck, Schrift & Sprache

In commemoration of the 500th anniversary of Johannes Reuchlin’s passing, the Jewelry Museum of Pforzheim has released the art book “The Mysteries of Signs: Johannes Reuchlin, Jewelry, Writing, and Language,” which was published by Arnoldsche Art Publishers in Stuttgart.

Read more

MARGIT JÄSCHKE KAIROS
Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim

The artist Margit Jäschke describes herself as a wanderer between art worlds. Transcending the boundaries of common genres, such as installation, painting, sculpture and art jewelry, she has created an oeuvre that is in a league of its own. Purposefully blurring the distinction between wearable pieces of jewelry and autonomous works of art, she emphasizes details that evoke different associations in different viewers. The exhibition will be showcasing the multifaceted and prize-winning oeuvre created by Margit Jäschke over the course of the past 30 years and will be accompanied by a catalogue published by Arnoldsche Art Publishers.

Read more

A NEWLY ORDERED WORLD
Retrospective

The jewelry of Napoleon’s era was very different from that created before the French Revolution: it was more unobtrusive, but no less precious; rather, it was even more valuable.

Read more

Beetle and Flor Castor Canadensis
Enamel-Crystallized Fauna

Christine Facella casts unique works of art from the skulls of expired friends, including English bulldogs, the white-tailed deer, snapping turtle, American beaver, black ear and springbok. Each piece is expertly morphed into a porcelain keepsake, transforming the macabre into a beautiful memento mori.

 

Buy on Qompendium

Read more

The Making of a Gold Rush Town

All it took was one serendipitous event in 1957 to uncover Bealiba in Victoria, Australia as a gold rush capital. What unravelled after the discovery morphed the sleepy town and influenced all aspects of life in the land down under, especially in terms of population, demography, economics, social hierarchy and popular culture.

Read more

Melting Pot

The new editorial home of Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim has taken the form of the Melting Pot digital platform, a conglomeration of all jewelry making facets today and in the yesteryears before us.

Read more

The A to Z of Jewelry

The ABCs of the jewelry sphere, exploring precious and semi-precious gems, how diamonds are graded, the ins and outs of gold plating, gold filled and gold vermeil, as well as noble and base metals.

Read more

Pforzheim Revisited BERLIN
Twelve years of the eponymous scholarship programme

Embossing, pressing and guilloché engraving are techniques employed in manufactory-style jewelry production. Within the context of the “Pforzheim Revisited Berlin” semester project initiated in 2010, students of the Jewelry and Everyday Objects Design course at Pforzheim University are experiencing a new lease on life by using these techniques to create contemporary jewelry.  The project has been made possible by a collaboration with the German Museum of Technology in Berlin and the Technical Museum of Pforzheim’s Jewelry and Watchmaking Industries, with support from the C. Hafner company. The exhibition will be spotlighting the works created by the participants of the scholarship programme of the past twelve years.

Read more

Gold Sandals and Toe Stalls

Egyptian finger and toe stalls fashioned from gold were common in the 18th Dynasty of Egypt and were used to protect the digits of the deceased during burial, especially from “magical dangers.”

Read more

All About Carats and Karats

Looking back at how diamonds, pearls and gold were sized up centuries ago and how they are measured and weighed up today.

Read more

Letizia Plankensteiner’s Imperfect Jewelry

Jewelr Letizia’s Plankensteiner’s atelier is located in the 6th district of Vienna on the scenic shopping street at Mariahilfer Straße.

This is where all the magic happens, so to say, as Plankensteiner puts her sculpting hands into high gear, spinning out sustainable gold and silver trinkets with their characteristic unfinished and raw beauty.

Melting Pot speaks with the sculptor-jewelr, who gives us a peek into her work process, background in jewelry making, atelier in the heart of Vienna and her go-to spots around the city.

Read more

Tokhtabayeva’s Modernist Talisman

Founded by Nigora Tokhtabayeva, Tabayer is a testament to the spiritual and cultural consciousness of jewelry combined with affinity to modernist American sculpture. Tabayer has a deep commitment to protecting the earth and its inhabitants, with jewelry pieces crafted from environmentally conscious and ethically sourced materials.

Read more

Christian Metzner Brandenburg
Porcelain and Borosilicate Bangles

A new take on porcelain and glass by Christian Metzner, a graduate in architecture and product design in Potsdam and, later, in garment technology at HTW Berlin. The handmade bangles are available in glazed white porcelain or in borosilicate glass, including silver, gold, bronze, or transparent.

Read more

The Cross, from the Ritualistic to Pop Culture

The cross has a number of iconographic representations from centuries past – from traditional crucifixes and Latin crosses to St. Peter’s cross, St. Philip’s cross, the Tau cross and others. It has also made its rounds in the art world and pop culture, appearing on Givenchy’s and Versace’s runways and music videos for the likes of Madonna and Katy Perry.

Read more

Gemological Flora and Fauna

The parrot pendant has become a permanent resident at Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim as part of the Werner Wild Foundation’s generous donation on the occasion of its tenth anniversary. There is a spiritual undercurrent to the pendant, as the parrot, snail and white rabbit are iconographically linked with the Virgin Mary and are considered an expression of feminine virtues.

Read more

FROM TROY TO ROMAN EMPIRE
Retrospective

Eons ago jewelry was revered for its magical and mythical properties. It was regarded as an emblem of honor, fertility and hunting magic.

Read more

Finding Rubies in Northeast Mozambique

Cabo Delgado province in northeast Mozambique is home to 33,600 hectares of one of the most significant ruby deposits in the world.

Read more

HIGHLIGHTS

1 of 5
A Gilded Funeral Wreath
2 of 5
Ars longa, Vita brevis
3 of 5
Napoleonic Era Jewelry and Fashion
4 of 5
Patcharavipa Bodiratnangkura’s Heirlooms
5 of 5
Egyptian Eye from an Anthropoid Coffin

ARCHIVE

ARCHIVE

COLLECTIONS
25.05.2023

Lily of the Valley Inspires Jewelry Designers

COLLECTIONS
18.05.2023

Rare Etruscan Gold Earring Immortalized in Ambrotype

RESOURCES
14.05.2023

Podcast: Articial Intelligems

EXHIBITIONS
29.04.2023

Of the Passion for Travelling and Collecting

CURIOSITIES
13.02.2023

Aesthetics and Culture: The Difference Between Jewelry and Jewellery

SCHMUCKMUSEUM
12.02.2023

Die Mysterien der Zeichen. Johannes Reuchlin, Schmuck, Schrift & Sprache

PAST EXHIBITIONS
05.01.2023

Margit Jäschke Kairos

SHOP
01.01.2023

Centenary Jewelry Case

LUMINARIES
18.09.2022

Ars longa, Vita brevis

LUMINARIES
28.08.2022

Patcharavipa Bodiratnangkura’s Heirlooms

RESOURCES
27.08.2022

Six Jewelry Instagrams to Watch

RESOURCES
23.08.2022

Top Jewelry Design Schools

SHOP
19.08.2022

Beetle and Flor Castor Canadensis

SHOP
15.08.2022

Kent and Sons Comb

CURIOSITIES
01.08.2022

The Making of a Gold Rush Town

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