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