ok...pictures sorted:)

fig a- heart shaped locket
fig b-round pendant with stone

comparative analysis

Hi Mark, Im sorry I posted this late. Only managed to sort out my password now. Iv also had some trouble putting on the pictures. Fig a (first piece) is the heart shaped pendant and Fig b (second piece) is the round pendant with the red  stone.

The first pendant (fig a) is a heart-shaped locket seemingly made out of whitish grey metal and gold metal. It has a chain and a hinge to keep the two sides of the locket together and a screw-like bale.  The front is rather rounded and it has a rather random design on top, zig zags and dots.  The second piece (Fig b) is also a pendant and is similar to the first in that it is also seemingly made up of two different metals; a deeper gold than the first and  a warmer looking whitish grey. It is round and is not a locket and whilst it also has a design on the top, the design is more organized and symmetrical than the one on fig a.  It also has a stone set at the top   , a red stone, a cabochon by the looks of it set on some sort of upraised triangle. Both pendants have a boarder on them, one having an upraised one and the other a recessed one. Fig a has a rather smooth matte surface whilst fig b has a not as smooth surface with a dull shine.

Both designs have more than one metal in them, it looks like brass and silver in the first one and 18ct yellow gold and silver in the second one. The second one also appears to have some other deep grey metal. The red stone could possibly be a ruby. The design on the second piece of jewellery could have been etched or roll pressed. The design on the second one however looks like it could have been done by stamping. The hinge was definitely riveted at some point. Both pieces would be worn around the neck, fig a would hang from a steeper angle than fig  b. Both look comfortable but fig b somewhat give the impression of being heavier. This is probably because of the stone and its base. I daresay both would be comfortable to wear given the length of the chains they hang form allows for this.

Fig a gives off an interesting vibe that sort of contradicts, the little details such as the e chain and the screw-like bale, the hinge that has a very geometric mechanical just shout out steampunk. Then you get the organic shape of the pendant itself, all rounded and curved making the piece start to take on a feminine delicate look, the design on top- the dots and the zig zag lines carry on this feeling but somehow tie the shape and the steampunk details together. The zig zag lines are in the shape of half circles, the angles in the zig zag tie in with the geometric sense of the piece and the half circle shape blends in with the shape of the pendant. Fig b on the other hand almost completely gives off an organic, feminine feel with the all the curved lines it has and the flowing lines of the design. It feels like you suddenly hit a wall though when your eyes suddenly hit the very geometric lines of the triangle at the top of the design. It’s like a piece of the pie has been taken and used for something else,( the triangular shape set in a circle echoes this) Then your eyes continue upwards and see the circular shape of the stone and the shape around it. The piece starts to feel organic and circular again. The puzzling color of fig b hints at age but the top part done in stronger, bold, geometric lines feels a bit more modern. Both pieces exude contradicting things in different ways. The first one feels more successful, whereas the second one s tarts to feel like two things combined.

4rth term written assignment

Oscar Abba jewellery:

I find this refreshingly different, the designer managed to convey some sort of free sense that is obviously very planned. The fluid continuous feel of the lines blends in very well with the shapes used. Oscar’s use of silver; a precious metal corresponds very well with the idea of an abstract, planned piece. It’s interesting how the form doesn’t exactly conform to the strict shapes or at least recognizable shapes that jewelry so usually adheres to but it still gives the sense of being valuable and proper.   I like how the designer carries on a theme; how he has developed an idea. The first bracelet has folds that are not so much of folds in the word but they echo the shape of folds in the way the metal is wavy and bends at unexpected areas.  Then the second piece Folds 2 has folds that are more defined, the metal doesn’t just echo the shape of folds but it also actualy folds in some places. The third piece  aptly named Liquids continues the same sort of abstract theme with organic , fluid lines but in this it seems to me that the designer went even more abstract, more ‘out of the box’ he has the lines and the shapes and the folds going but he adheres to a less defined shape. I find it interesting how there is an empty space in the middle of the piece and the outside of the piece is where it seems the shapes and folds are...And it almost seems to me that the empty space in the middle is contained by the shapes around it. It reminds me of how water doesn’t actually have a shape but just takes the shape of the object/container around it.

It must have taken some measure of craftsmanship to bring out all those shapes and I can’t help but wonder at the level of accuracy and just how he did it all. There is an appealing contrast in the shapes used and the angles used; for example the first bracelet; Folds has very loose line and then 'organic right angles' in some places. The designer also managed to make his pieces appear balanced in spite of the abstract, wavy lines. Oscar’s designs are interesting and make for an interesting analysis I could go on J