Black locket with springform latch, 2004. brooch

In the domestic realm, personal belongings and treasures are kept in various kinds of containers. In the kitchen, food is stored in jars, tins and boxes; water, juice and milk in bottles.

In the language of jewellery little boxes, in which you preserve precious items such as keepsakes or tokens of love, are called lockets.

Very tough and resistant Japanese Urushi lacquer is used to protect and decorate tableware and accessories. It has exceptional preserving qualities. Flowers, for example, will last for weeks in an Urushi lacquer vase.
I use this quality in a more metaphorical way in my lockets and other Urushi-works.

Materials: Japanese Urushi lacquer on textile (or metal), silver, occasionally 18 ct gold, remanium needles
Photography: Corriette Schoenaerts, Rutger Graas, Eddo Hartmann

Black locket with springform latch, 2004. brooch

Brown locket, 2004. pendant

Jar Lockets, 2005. brooches

Red locket with rubber straps, 2004.brooch

Black box locket, 2005. necklace

Choco-Flower and Flower multiple, 2005. brooches

Flowers are one of the oldest ornaments in human history. In almost every culture you will find stylized flower shapes as well in art as in daily life. Buildings, utensils, food, textiles, and bodies traditionally were – and still are – decorated with flower shapes. They are usually symbols of joy and fertility.

My Urushi Flower Brooches are ornaments for the body. Their shapes are inspired by baking tins and yoghurt tubs as found in the supermarket and kitchen.