I’m a sucker for jewelry and wares made of wood and metal so I went crazy when friend Max Wastler of All Plaidout introduced me to jewelry designer Gillion Carrara‘s work. Based in Chicago, Carrara works with wood, horn, bone, shell, antler, and precious metals sourced from Tuscany, Africa, South America, India, and the western and mid-western states. From silver-lined cuffs and sculptural glass rings, to horn handled knives and wooden cufflinks, each of her pieces is stunning in its marriage of industrial and organic design. The aesthetic of her craft is best described by Carrara herself, “My work integrates streamlined, minimal design with honest attention to refined details of craftsmanship and a profound respect for the materials I use. What drives my designs are the pure forms of architecture and nature that have always absorbed my attention.” Someday I hope to be able to collect some pieces from this amazing artist.
