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TECHNIQUE & TYPES OF CHINA
My shard jewelry finds its roots in the folk art known as Pique Assiette, French for "stolen from the plate." The art form was first recognized in Africa where pottery vessels were used to mark the graves of their previous owners. Later, the Victorians began placing broken china on jars and vases to make memory jugs. Today, broken china continues to be recycled into tabletops, picture frames and a variety of other items...all forms of Pique Assiette.
Click Patterns & Styles to jump to that section.
THE HUNT FOR MATERIALS I spend many hours looking for just the right pieces of china for my jewelry. Some of my sources are closely guarded secrets, but for the most part, I search antique stores, rummage sales, resale shops, the occasional dumpster, riverbeds (yes, riverbeds) and anywhere else someone might try unloading damaged china.
THE RESEARCH The next step is assessing the name, age and value of each plate, dish and saucer. Often naming the piece is as easy as flipping over the plate and reading the markings; other times I am left linking it to other known sources or leaving it "unknown." When it comes to age, most china can be estimated to a specific decade and every effort is made to be as accurate as possible. If an antique plate still has value despite its damage, I do not turn it into jewelry. I will either resell the plate "as is" or add it to my ever-growing collection of "only slightly damaged" dishes.
THE BREAKDOWN I use a variety of methods for breaking china. My favorites include the drop technique and the hammer technique. Both allow the plate to break as it pleases and sticks to the folk art nature of the craft. For more precise breaking, I score the china using a glass cutter and hope for the best. I then use a pair of nibblers to "nibble" away any excess china and use a water grinder to smooth out the edges.
METALWORK For the metalwork, I have chosen a copper foil method that was perfected by Tiffany. The lead-free silver solder provides a rustic brilliance to the piece that pays homage to the history of the piece as well as its contemporary second life as jewelry. The metal generates a dark copper-like patina over time, yet that patina can be easily removed using fine steel wool.
CARDING & LABELLING The job is not complete until each piece is carded for display and labeled. I include as much information as possible, so its new owner can appreciate the history as well as the beauty of the piece.
There seems to be a limitless number patterns and styles of china and pottery, and each has its advantages and disadvantages when turning it into jewelry. Below I have highlighted some of the most popular.
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