All That Glitters Episode 1

APRIL 13TH, 2021

Our inspirations from week one of the New BBC2 show ‘All that glitters’.

This week saw two challenges; the first, A best seller - A trio of bangles; followed by a bespoke challenge - a sculptural necklace. This episode focused on the use of silver as a material.

APRIL 13TH, 2021

Our inspirations from week one of the New BBC2 show ‘All that glitters’.

This week saw two challenges; the first, A best seller - A trio of bangles; followed by a bespoke challenge - a sculptural necklace. This episode focused on the use of silver as a material.

1/5

3850–2960 B.C — Egypt, shell, bone, steatite, stone — Simple bangles have been found in burial tombs of many prehistoric civilisations, crafted from various stones and natural materials. Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

8th century B.C. — Italy, Bronze — The Bronze Age, named after the alloy that characterized the era, saw great advancements in metal-smithing. This Roman bangle is decorated with skilfully engraved geometric pattens. Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

1st century — Egypt, gold — These serpent bangles are cast in solid gold, the intricate scales and details of the heads were chased after casting. Snakes represented immortality and the gods in ancient Egyptian culture, while in Greece they were a symbol of healing. Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

8th century – Indonesia, gold – Javanese jewellery of this period was often oversized and crafted from large amounts of pure gold. These impressive jewels would have often been worn for ceremonial purposes such as weddings. Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

19th century – France, gold, enamel – Inspired by medieval European art and chivalrous mottos of knights, gold bangle bracelets ornamented with brilliantly-coloured enamelled such as this one were highly sought after in the latter half of the 19th century. Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Bangles – a look through the ages

Bangles were one of the first forms of jewellery ever to be crafted, with the earliest known fragments have been dated back to the stone age, more than 65,000 years ago.

The bangle is a beautiful form that lends itself to being interpreted in a myriad of ways, by examining these we can chart the evolution of different materials, crafting techniques and society as a whole. What is more, the bangle is an iconic piece of jewellery in the House of Shaun Leane.

Bespoke

The show focused on the intimacy and personalisation of bespoke, with the challenge of creating a sculptural necklace.

This is often the most intimate and rewarding kind of work for a jeweller and one which here at Shaun Leane we wholeheartedly embrace, because it gives people a chance to mark a special moment in their lives

1/5

Icicle pendant — 2019 — Platinum, tanzanite, diamonds, sapphires

Moon pendant — 2015 — Gold, white gold, diamonds, graduated blue sapphires

Thorned Branch necklace — 2018 — Gold, 162ct natural yellow sapphire, cognac diamonds, white diamonds

Talon pendant — 2011 — White gold, 4.22ct diamond, diamonds

Shard necklace — 2019 — Silver, aquamarine, diamonds

1/5

WHAT SHAUN LEANE WORE SEE FULL COLLECTION HERE

“To me the movement of a bangle when worn is a beautiful mirror of one’s own gestures and persona”.

SHAUN LEANE

Bespoke

1/5

Icicle pendant — 2019 — Platinum, tanzanite, diamonds, sapphires

Moon pendant — 2015 — Gold, white gold, diamonds, graduated blue sapphires

Thorned Branch necklace — 2018 — Gold, 162ct natural yellow sapphire, cognac diamonds, white diamonds

Talon pendant — 2011 — White gold, 4.22ct diamond, diamonds

Shard necklace — 2019 — Silver, aquamarine, diamonds

DISCOVER OUR BANGLES

DISCOVER OUR SILVER

We choose to craft many of our collections from silver because it is a beautifully versatile material. Our respect for this noble metal is such that we employ techniques and finishes usually reserved for fine jewellery to our contemporary collections.