A single ring is 2025/2. A 'Sunstone' cut by Tom Munsteiner is a feldspar (cf moonstone, labradorite) often found in Scandinavia and northern North America. Here in sterling silver with gold trimmings, next to a Cook Island pearl. Christine is always mindful to integrate the elements of her work, creating a 'whole' rather than leaving them detached from their support.
In studio.

2025 Part 1: A double ring with amethysts, three cat's eye moonstones and a light brown diamond. set in silver with 18ct gold details, for the ring and middle fingers of the right hand.
Christine is back in full action, working with Tessa, a young German trainee who is keen to learn the ways and means of the goldsmith's art.
Studio visits are very welcome, by appointment; we are enjoying seeing many more travellers again after the quiet of Covid.
Wishing everyone a safe and entertaining year ahead.
David and Christine.

Christmas, or Season's, greetings from the sunshine of Christine's studio on this last December week of 2024! After the turbulence of months past, we take the peaceful visage of Doug Marsden's magnificent whale-tooth carving that became 'Hawaii Dreaming' of the 1999 Navigator series as our motto for the summer break ahead.
Internal peace, appreciation of one's surroundings, contentment with the joys of life. He reflects on his mother-land and the peace he will find there, eventually.
Ein frohes Fest und alles Gute für 2025.
David und Christine.

The topic of 'age' seems to be more frequent these days, with Christine's career now well over 50 years long. Keeping us in perspective, however, is the fossil record of past lives on earth. These ammonites were around quite a long time ago now (I dare not quote a number, for fear of miscounting my Zeros!) but their mineralised versions are extraordinarily beautiful. The silver pieces are around $2500, the gold pearl necklace has an extra zero. In studio.

Pearls and opals - what a beautiful mix! Three necklaces of Cook Island black pearls. One with Australian boulder opals, a second with Mexican fire opal and the third with Mexican matrix opal. A few diamonds scattered through, just for good luck (spot the black diamonds!) and a mix of yellow and white gold. The shapes are explained with the pieces. 'Pearls are in!'

A silver ring (well, just a touch of gold too) for the right hand ring finger. Mabé pearl - a button grown on the shell of a black-lip oyster - with a kite cut diamond and a mandarin garnet. Lots of shaping to make it fit and sit on the hand, nestling into the space between ring and pinkie and stay put once there. 'Oh, it is SO comfortable' is the common refrain.
To be exhibited in the Nelson Suter Art Society Summer Show, opening on Wednesday 18th. Come and view!

A celebration of colour in brooch, necklace and ring. Bright summer reminders to counter the darker days and celebrate the joys of being alive. Let the Festivities begin?

Three silver works of strong surface texture. The layering of metals, their folding in Shibori technique, the contrast between rough and smooth surfaces and the integration of spectacular stones make these bangles wonderfully imposing. The raising of contrast by applying tarnishing accelerant further highlights the drama.
On view at Open Studio this weekend.

Three gloves giving of themselves to display gold rings. Mandarin garnet with golden pearl; tourmalines in a double ring; three Cook Island pearls with a Spirit sun cut diamond. Open Studio this weekend!

Next weekend! A great opportunity.

Tall Tales. Three multi-element necklaces from a collection inspired by childhood reading of the Winnetou series of adventure stories; their later filming, in the 1970s, secured an intergenerational interest within Germany and surrounding countries.
The author, Karl May, created a fictional world of First Nation Americans being disrupted by European migrants. His having written them from a German prison cell would today cause serious controversy over authenticity, but they captured the collective imagination and were read by millions! $2000-$5000.

Nelson's Great Christmas Market was a fun day of showing, in perfect weather. We feel that many small businesses have emerged from the pandemic and that creativity is seeing a revival? It was nice to see many potters showing their work.
With Abbie Scott, of IO Studio, lending us glass sculptures as props, we had a colourful display to offer and were very well received.
Upcoming, on the weekend of 7 & 8 December, we are holding a joint OPEN STUDIO in Milne Place and look forward to visitors!

Blacks, pinks or blues? Three necklaces, medium length, to brighten a summer outfit, casual or formal. A mother-of-pearl button with black onyx beads; Mexican matrix opal and pink freshwater pearls; K2 jasper - white granite with azurite - with lapis and chunky rock crystal. Under $2000. Treat yourself?!

A double ring with tourmaline and a bangle with citrine, stones by Munsteiner. $12000 each.

Three rings, under $4000.
18ct yellow gold.
Chrysoberyl and a diamond crystal.
Rock crystal (quartz) cut by Tom Munsteiner.
A black pearl, with ruby, emerald and sapphire. Available from studio. David 021 817 209.

35 years on: The Berlin Wall, the concrete divide between East and West Berlin, crumbled unexpectedly in November 1989. In January 1990, we flew from Sussex and spent the weekend in Berlin, experiencing the euphoria of border openings and free movement into the DDR and to East Berlin.
The German ambassador, Dr Nicole Menzenbach, held a reception for a group of New Zealanders whose lives were impacted by this occasion. It was very emotional to hear the stories and share our experiences, which have remained so vivid over this considerable time.
Christine had made a series of jewellery works titled 'The Colour of Freedom' that expressed her relief at her homeland being released from its constraints. These are best described by our favourite German word 'Vergangenheitsbewaeltigung' - Coming-to-Terms-with-the Past.
Her process of reworking items from the jewellery box - broken, inherited, out fashioned, partly lost, expired relationship gifts - has made pieces of jewellery that incorporate many of life's memories in an artwork for daily wear.
The story panels now hang on the fence of the German Embassy in Wellington and may well travel the country, even heading to Berlin next year. Tales travel well!

Another decoration, this time in our studio at home. With Christmas fast approaching, our favourite props emerge to brighten the cabinets. Another set of gloves, found in the wonderful Eclectic antique shop in Nelson, add colour - the cream glove with coloured gussets is glorious, and the labradorite double ring sits beautifully on it!

'A Show of Hands' at the Suter Gallery in Nelson. A new exhibition featuring many references to the Hand, including three rings from Christine's collection. For the first time, we used beautiful leather gloves as display props, with great success! An exciting development.....

A sure sign that the year is running out? The lovely Christmas Market at Founders Park, Nelson beckons again, we look forward to seeing friends, old and new, there! It is a fun day with lots of bustle and chatter with all sorts of items on offer. Find us in the Energy Centre building, lots of exciting works on show.

Pictures, at an exhibition! We just spent the weekend at the Nelson Home and Garden Show, just around the corner at the fabulous Saxton Fields sport complex, and welcomed lots of lovely locals to our stand. It is always a joy to see responses to an approach that people are unfamiliar with.
Amusing is how different the perception of distance between Nelson to Richmond (a LOONG way!) to that of Richmond to Nelson (next door) can be!!
We shared a stand with our neighbour, Abbie Scott of IOStudio, with her stained glass objects. It was great synergy and our studios being adjacent makes visits even more attractive.
We look forward to welcoming you to Richmond soon!