#110.
This unique sterling silver necklace is now available exclusively through my studio and online store.
New collection available online now.
A new collection of one-of-a-kind sterling silver rings is now available through my studio and online store. Each piece can be resized upon request.
The studio is open for viewings by appointment on Saturdays.
To schedule a visit, please email to arrange a time.
Deep Song Ring
The work of Federico García Lorca inspired the name of this ring.
In 1921, Lorca published a group of poems titled Poem of the Deep Song (Poema Del Cante Jondo).
Cante jondo, or "deep song," is a profound and emotive musical form that emerged from a rich tapestry of cultural influences in Andalusian Spain. It developed among those who sought refuge in the mountains during the 15th century to escape the Spanish Inquisition. This genre blends elements from Arabic instruments, Sephardic rituals, Byzantine liturgy, native folk traditions, and the rhythms of Gypsy life, creating a unique and powerful expression of emotion. The intensity and depth of cante jondo reflect a deep connection to history and personal experience, making it a moving and significant part of musical heritage.
Deep song resonates on a profound level because it taps into complex emotions and experiences.
Lorca writes that “Cante jondo is like the trilling of birds, the cry of the cockerel, and the natural music of woods and streams.”
The green of this ring reminds me of this line. It is many greens at once. Lorca calls cante jondo, “these pure and truthful songs”.
A ring is a ring, no more or less than that. Poetry comes when the ring is worn, as the stories of the wearer become present in the experience of wearing it.
The form of this ring is simple, yet it carries a rough, natural charm, as if hewn from wood. With its sole purpose of holding the stone, the setting is secure and trustworthy, holding the stone with unwavering conviction.
This sapphire is sourced from Northern Queensland. Its colour is deep green, determined by the mineral content of the land in which it was formed.
It is a lofty call to name a ring after a subject so rich and profound, however the power of the jewellery object is stronger than the material aspects of its form, much like people and the unwavering power of storytelling.
There is one of these rings and it is exclusive to my studio.
All quotes by Lorca are taken from a lecture he gave in 1922, on the Deep Song: A lecture given in Granada, 19th February 1922
https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Spanish/DeepSong.php
Transitional and transactional jewellery.
In Sheila Paine's book on amulets, a charm is an object believed to bring good luck, health, and happiness, while an amulet provides protection through magical means. A talisman, on the other hand, is thought to have inherent magical properties.
The pendants presented here are not charms, amulets, or talismans, but their design and intention reflect elements of each. If jewellery is reduced to just material wealth, it overlooks the rich history of human storytelling and the deeper symbolic meanings woven into jewellery. And this is the area that I am most interested in.
When I create a piece of jewellery, my intention shapes both the design and the choice of materials.
However, once the work leaves my hands and enters the world, this original intention is transformed by the wearer’s experience. The wearer writes a new story over the piece. This interaction is what makes transitional and transactional objects truly significant—the way they evolve through the connection with those who engage with them.
My most recent series of sterling silver pendants explores the idea of a private charm/talisman/amulet.
These pieces are textured and heavy, designed to serve as a tool for the wearer—providing something tangible to hold onto, offering a sense of comfort or protection when worn.They are intended to be worn on longer chains, allowing movement to become an integral part of the wearing experience, adding a dynamic element to the connection between the wearer and the piece.
The three small gold pendants are made from precious materials. Their finer nature requires a different level of consideration when worn, inviting a more subtle, nuanced connection with the wearer. Again, I have threaded them on longer chains. This works well when wearing other jewellery alongside them.
Small fragments of experience become part of the work. This is not static but changeable and ever evolving.
There is one of each of these pendants and they are exclusive to my studio and are also available on my online store.
Paine, S. (2004) Amulets. Sacred Charms of Power and Protection. Inner Traditions. Rochester, Vermont.
Photo credits: Katherine Bowman
1. Detail of work by Anya Gallaccio, Turner Contemporary, Margate
2. Detail, standing stones, Avebury, UK
3. Margate
4. Detail of a painting, National Portrait Gallery, London
5. Canterbury Cathedral
Two Rings
Two rings.
Making a ring with undulating surfaces and textures is to engage with the wearer in a tactile way. The weight and uneven surfaces become a sensory experience.
The ring becomes not so much about the way it looks but about the way it feels.
These rings explore this.
To enquire about bespoke commissions please email info@katherinebowman.com.au
NEW RELEASE of Series of One Pendant
These pendants are about touch. They are heavy and textured.
Because they are suspended on long chains, they move. The experience of wearing them is in a constant state of flux.
These pendants are about having something to hold onto, to locate oneself in daily life. They are about memory and experience.
There are seven unique pendants in this new series of works, all exclusive to my studio and online store.
These pendants will be released and available online at 9 am Monday, 16th September 2024.
ENQUIRE NOW
A heart for Annie.
18ct yellow gold pendant set with a diamond, 18ct yellow gold chain.
This pendant was commissioned by the McHugh family, for beautiful Annie McHugh’s birthday.
The gift coincided with the passing of Adele McHugh, and the heart became so much more precious.
Again, this pendant is heavy. Solid 18ct yellow gold. It has become something to hold on to. Given with love and surrounded by love.
A pendant for Jane.
Sterling silver and a mix of 18ct and 9ct yellow gold.
This pendant has a good weight to it. When there is an intention and an object to be created to hold that intention, weight is an important part of the design. To be aware of the presence of a jewellery piece is to also be reminded of the reasons behind why it was made.
This small pendant holds family love.
Trade Wind Ring
9ct yellow gold Trade Wind ring set with an Australian parti sapphire.
I have been making variations of this ring for many years.
This sapphire was the perfect choice for this design. It is green with flashes of yellow in it. Like many parti sapphires, changeable with different light sources.
This reel was taken outside and it is very over cast today, so it is not as sparkly as it is under directional light.
Trade winds blow east to west, north and south of the equator.
These winds help ships travel west. They aid trade as they are consistent in force and direction so cargo on ships are more likely to get where they need to go. A very basic definition, however trade winds have been utilized by captains of ships to cross the world's oceans for centuries.
The Portuguese, from the 14th century, understood the importance of harnessing trade winds for navigation aiding discovery and trade. There is a term, "volta do mar", translated as "turn of the sea", "return of the sea", describing these winds.
This ring carries different engraved motifs, almost like a palimpsest, all held together with this unique sea green sapphire.
There is one of these rings and it is exclusive to my studio.
Please email info@katherinebowman.com.au with any queries regarding this ring.
Golden Rings.
All 18ct yellow gold. One set with an Australian parti sapphire.
The design process always begins with a conversation about what is most important.
What is most important is specific and unique to each person.
It could be the material choices, or a memory, or a place or a personal hope or dream.
To make something that taps into this is what inspires me the most.
A small metal work that can be carried on the body holding meaning and intention becomes more significant with this dialogue.
Bespoke orders are open. If you would like to find out about the process involved in creating a unique jewellery piece please email info@katherinebowman.com.au
Caravel Ring
18ct Caravel ring set with Ceylon sapphires.
This ring was made initially for my Mum. Three is an important number in my family, as I am one of three children. My Mum asked for a ring that had three gemstones in it to represent us.
At the time I was working on designs for this ring, I had been researching Renaissance jewellery for a course I was writing and came across the term caravel. A caravel being a small sailing ship, most often with three sails, very important in the 15th Century, as it enabled discovery and exploration. This ship was initially from Portugal. I liked the idea of a sailing ship discovering the world, and the three sails worked together to catch and use the wind, which is why the three shapes are flatter and more square in shape. The three different angles in this ring reflect and catch light, something that I have been exploring for many years in jewellery. The vivid blue of the Ceylon sapphires, was chosen here to represent water and the sea and sky.
This design can be custom made in metal with gemstones of choice.
This very ring is available to purchase now and is listed on my online store.
A ring designed to wear every day and to hold memories.
Large Pledge Ring
I have been making variations of these rings for more than 20 years.
A pledge is a solemn promise or undertaking.
When I was looking at designing an engagement ring, this word became the inspiration for the design. Something simple and clear without distractions. One thing held strongly in a setting.
The scale of the top was determined by a 7mm round gemstone. I decided on this size as it was more unusual than the calibrated sizes of 6mm and 8mm. It also made it harder for me! As sourcing this size can be difficult. I thought that to find someone that you love is a precious and unique experience and the ring needed to reflect that as well. I preference Australian parti sapphires as I can trace their provenance and the colours are truly unique, each sapphire has its own visual identity, like people and relationships.
My work is not about impressing people with status signs of wealth, it is quieter and about beautiful materials and a celebration of the handmade.
The ring shank is also wonky, as life and experiences are wonky and surprising and never one thing but move between many things at the same time.
This ring can be custom made in metal of choice and also with gemstone of choice. I am currently making a new Large Pledge ring for my online store, it should be ready to view in about 3 weeks.
Email info@katherinebowman.com.au to find out more about my bespoke process, as well as requesting quotes on having this design handmade.
I mostly work now with diamonds, sapphires and rubies, as these precious stones are the hardest wearing gemstones, and will wear and last longer. A good omen for a relationship.
So, this simple ring is a result of a lot of choices.
Jewellery Care
Jewellery will begin to change and wear over time; this is a natural part of the life cycle of a handmade object. Protecting your jewellery from impact against hard or abrasive surfaces is important. The gemstones are the most vulnerable part of a ring as they are softer than the metal that holds it. Removing precious jewellery before exercise, gardening, and housework is advisable. Wearing rings set with gemstones during these activities can result in abrasion across the surface of the gemstones; this can be seen in the form of scratches and chips. Extreme temperatures, ultrasonic cleaning and household chemicals may also damage or discolour gemstones. The care and, ultimately, the condition of the precious materials is the responsibility of the client. Gemstone set items will require occasional cleaning to ensure that the gemstone continues to reflect its true colour and cut.
A simple way to clean your jewellery is to place the item in a small bowl in warm water (not boiling) diluted with a dash of dishwashing detergent. Running a soft toothbrush on the underside of a ring, below where gemstones are set, will help dislodge a build-up of dirt and oils from your skin; this dirt can dull the reflective qualities of the gemstone. Completely dry the piece with a clean cloth once the item has been rinsed under clean water.
Should you have any enquiries about the finish or condition of your jewellery as well as cleaning, please do not hesitate to contact the studio.
info@katherinebowman.com.au
The second bronze sculpture made for my exhibition at e.g.etal 'Aide-mémoire'
Bronze
240 x 180 x 100mm
This is the second bronze sculpture made for my exhibition at @egetal 'Aide-mémoire'
A memory aide can take many forms. Text, objects, jewellery, images all form part of the transactional nature of experience, memory and objects.
There are two quotes from different writers that I have carried around for many years, these texts act like memory aides for me. I think any creator has a core theme that they explore over a lifetime. The creative act being driven by a constant examination of concepts both known and inexplicable at the same time.
The first quote is by Denis Hollier, who wrote, in The Politics of Prose:
It is possible to see without being seen but it is not possible to touch without the same time being touched. One never emerges intact from any contact.
The second is by Antonia Payne, who wrote in The Avoided Object:
Like the sliver of bone that becomes a holy relic; so the objects are transformed by the presence of the believer, by the one who writes their stories: they become the vehicle for our dreams, the medium of our memories.
These textures and motifs that I repeatedly explore form part of this investigation into the significance of objects as storytelling tools. They are touchstones to memory. Memory is personal and public at the same time, holding cultural and social significance, and constantly being interpreted by the individual. The motifs may not make sense, yet at the same time, holding great value. In this world of unknowns, these transitional objects locate oneself in the everyday.
Bronze
240 x 180 x 100mm
Bronze
240 x 180 x 100mm
Bronze
240 x 180 x 100mm
Aide-mémoire
by Katherine Bowman
15th February - 6th March 2024
e.g.etal jewellery gallery
150 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
RSVP to: events@egetal.com.au
Aide-mémoire exhibition. e.g.etal 15th February - 6th March 2024
Bronze
290 x 185 x 120mm
Bronze
290 x 185 x 120mm
Jewellery has served many functions over the last millennium. It is a conduit to the gods, a sign of belonging and place, and a location of wealth, status and desire. These functions still prevail; however, there is a greater focus on the individual in our contemporary world. An individual's relationship with jewellery is both personal and public. Memory and desire still drive jewellery forward as a current location of agency and belonging.
This new body of work explores the powerful connection individuals place on the jewellery object and ‘jewellery-like’ objects.
My interpretation of the jewellery object is not confined to jewellery as such; it includes a tactile exploration of different materials and art forms, all engaged in creating a sensory calling to memory and a location of experience. These ‘memory aids’ connect the viewer back to themselves while locating oneself in the present daily experience. This results in the jewellery object not just representing adornment but also eliciting a strong personal emotion felt by the owner/viewer of the work.
I work across many mediums, and my subject circles around a core theme of ideas of memory and belonging. This exhibition comprises bronze sculptures, accompanying jewellery and a series of small ceramic sculptures and ink paintings. Each medium explores the same idea of the aide-mémoire.
Bronze
290 x 185 x 120mm
Bronze
290 x 185 x 120mm
Bronze
290 x 185 x 120mm
Bronze
290 x 185 x 120mm
Aide-mémoire
by Katherine Bowman
15th February - 6th March 2024
e.g.etal jewellery gallery
150 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
RSVP to: events@egetal.com.au
Mneme Ring
9ct white gold Mneme ring set with white diamonds.
In mythology, Mneme was the muse of memory. Also known as Mnemosyne. According to Hesiod, the Ancient Greek poet, Mnemosyne was the mother of the Nine Muses.
In ‘Orlando’, Virginia Woolf writes:
“Memory is the seamstress, and a capricious one at that. Memory runs her needle in and out, up and down, hither and thither. We know not what comes next,or what follows after.”
This ring is very simple.
There are very straightforward tools to aid memory, objects, text, oratorical devices. The diamonds here are laid out like memory aids, to trigger memory or to symbolize individual experience. This ring works well with other rings.
There is one of these rings and it is available online now.
The Mneme ring can be custom made in your choice of gold and gemstones. Please email the studio with and questions regarding bespoke orders.
Handmade bespoke jewellery
Handmade bespoke jewellery.
The studio of Katherine Bowman comprises of me, Katherine Bowman and Tess Braham.
I design and handmake all of the work myself. Tess manages the studio and client liaison. We are a very small team, and we like it this way.
I am greatly interested in the history of jewellery and adornment. About the connection jewellery can hold to people and places and cultures.
A valuable item holds material value, but it is more than that. It is something that has personal and public meaning, that is chosen to be worn on the body every day, that the provenance of materials can be traced and celebrated, that connects oneself to another or a memory that is cherished.
I aim to create work that communicates all these things.
Intentional jewellery, hand made with love.
This collection of precious rings is available directly through the studio or via the online store.
Wide Random Ring
Natural light on a golden diamond ring.
18ct yellow gold Wide random ring set with diamonds.
This ring is available through my studio.
Email info@katherinebowman.com.au with any queries regarding this ring.
