Pearly Jewels
Published
By
jesse
Melbourne jeweler, Polly Vanderglas’ background in fashion, cultural studies and her ongoing interest in the human body have led to these works of… body-part art.
Polly Vanderglas is causing a fuss with her very unique take on recycling. While some may find these pieces a little too wacky, others are pulling their hair out to get hold of one of the cult designs.
Polly Vanderglas’ jewellery pieces explore new types of interactions between jewellery and the body. Employing a wide range of metals and materials, including hair, teeth and fingernails- all genuinely human – and all donated from living friends and relatives – the pieces take recycling to the next level.
While the idea of seeing someone else’s tooth wrapped around your finger everytime you take a sip of coffee is a little too much for some, Polly insists that the purpose of the pieces is to generate thoughts of the owner – giving the pieces their own story.
"Each tooth or hair lock has it’s own history. I find that there’s almost a feeling of bonding when shed parts are mixed up, re-used, and re-appropriated."
"I feel myself asking as I wear the tooth ring out to dinner; what was the last meal this tooth ate? Or as I get dressed in the morning and put on the
plaited hair hoop earrings; what kind of hairstyle did these locks come from?"
Pieces are available via the designer.
Related Articles
Events
A rollicking good story with Richards Stanisich and Royal Oak Floors
Jonathan Richards and Kirsten Stanisich discussed practice, design process and the business of running a studio at a live audience event hosted by Royal Oak Floors in Sydney.
Events
Indesign x Wilkhahn: Melbourne, where are you working?
Our latest collaboration saw a range of designers come together at Wilkhahn’s Melbourne showroom for a discussion on the workplace dynamics specific to the Victorian capital.
Events
“A journey into a whole new material world”: Plant Life at the NGV
Curator Ewan McEoin tells us about the NGV’s new exhibition on plant-based materials as alternatives to plastics, synthetic materials and other non-renewable resources.
Events
The inaugural Coastal Design Assembly is about to make landfall in Sydney
Sophie Lanigan, organiser of a new event centring on Sydney’s relationship to water, tells us what the event’s all about, who it’s for and why it matters today.