Pippa Small Constellation collection
Ethical jeweller Pippa Small
has once again taken inspiration from far-off lands - specifically,
central Asian skies - for her new Constellation jewellery
collection. "The collection was inspired by the dark nights in the
deserts around Bukhara in Uzbekistan," she explains. "With no
bright city lights to disturb the night sky, the stars shone with
such fervour, and the constellations unfolded with such magical
arrangements."
The joy of Small's jewellery is not
only the colourful stones she employs but also the wonderful
handcrafted nature of it. Necklaces are seemingly plucked straight
from the starry night she so vividly describes: "The use of stormy
haematites, labradorites, rutilated quartz and moon stones bring
out the night sky, and the dreamy purple flashing opals tell of the
colourful stars," she explains.
Although British, Small has
travelled the world in aid of some of the poorest communities, and
it is these experiences that give her pieces such a tactile and
earthy presence. The Constellation collection was designed in
London but crafted in Rajasthan, India, using traditionally skilled
goldsmiths and stonecutters. The yellow gold carries that
shimmering luminosity often found in Indian jewellery. Even
necklaces in the collection that eschew the vibrant mix of colours
found in the other pieces catch the eye with their cascading
arrangements - an ideal match for the soft, hand-hewn shapes of the
stones.
This brightness of colour, combined
with an exotic mix of semi-precious stones, is a superb addition to
Pippa
Small's treasure trove of works. The collection will be
available from mid-November, with prices ranging from £4,700 to
£15,000.