Charlotte Biba Bouchard
‘I Can See The Sea’ Necklace
From her studio in South Devon, Charlotte handcrafts distinctive precious metal jewellery collections and commissions using recycled materials, traditional techniques and sustainable practices. She also teaches workshops and 1:1 lessons.
Her jewellery collections are created in silver with occasional gold embellishments, many designs are guaranteed to be one-off items. For bespoke commissions and her reimagined heirloom service, she works increasingly with old gold and repurposed precious stones.
Charlotte draws inspiration from a wide range of interests including the ancient and antique, architecture, nature, shape and form. For personal projects, such as these pieces, she frequently finds herself returning to explore ideas inspired by memories growing up in Cornwall. These pieces explore the effects of sunlight on the sea as viewed from the cliff paths looming over the sandy beaches she visited as a child. She says she was “mesmerised by the sparkle of the sun on the sea. It was like watching precious gems and diamonds glittering and flashing; darting and dancing along the water’s surface.”
Charlotte’s first necklace evokes that childlike wonder. By gently running fingers across the internal components on the back of the pendant, the movement is transferred to the framed rippling and sparkling waves at the front. The ‘picture’ rekindles a comforting feeling in a similar way to other sensory jewellery worn to help people overcome feelings of anxiety or overwhelm. The idea of something evoking happy and safe memories as being a comfort and security was Charlotte’s aim.
The second version, entitled Minack Moon explores another memory, that of moonlight on the sea - the magical backdrop to evening performances at the Minack Theatre in Porthcurno, and explores Charlotte’s interest in how the connection and beauty of a memory changes and evolves as it is revisited through passing time. reely. When a breeze catches this sculpture it comes to life, inspired by the process of winnowing where wheat is separated from chaff by tossing it up energetically in the wind.
@charlottebibabouchardjewellery
Devon
