In addition to the Renaissance earrings described in my last blog, I also created a mini collection inspired by Italian glass.
Vetro a retorti is Italian for “glass with twists”. This glasswork is blown with canes (long thin rods) that are twisted together to form spiral patterns. It's beautiful, skilled work that makes you want to watch Blown Away again on Netflix.
Italian plate, mid-17th–early 18th century.
Interpretation
My jewelry version of this technique is not made of glass, but it captures the light—and the eye—the same way that molten sand does.
Alternative Materials
While doing research for the Venice exhibit, I noticed that the vetro a retorti artworks—dating from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries—looked similar to a material that I've always wanted to experiment with.
These rods, typically used in architectural modeling, are difficult to source and I don't know a lot about them. But spinning them in your hand creates a mesmerizing effect.
Fabrication Challenge
Making these earrings didn't take the time it would take to blow real glass (and they're priced accordingly). But there was a little more skill involved that you might think. The main challenge in perfecting these earrings—after cutting a hole in the rod—was ensuring that the point of the spiral ended at the bottom. I didn't want a section of the repeating spiral to be cut in half—or for it to end up in a different position than its counterpart.
An Aside: The Small Things
Getting a detail like this right is why being an artist is, well... time-consuming. The devil is most definitely in the details, if you ask me.
Back to the Designs
I also designed two necklaces. The long rod, places horizontally, is quite unique. I think they look best when worn together!
Purchasing
If you wish to purchase any of these items, please contact me through this website, or visit the museum shop at NCMA (the Venice exhibit shop is located in the brick building).