Ann Chapman

Small wonders

• Ann creates timeless heirloom pieces
• Jewellery is part of celebrating life for her
• She focuses on crafting the minute details

The day after Ann Chapman finished her degree in European Studies, she signed up for a week of jewellery making and never looked back. She enrolled in a range of courses and completed an apprenticeship. After this, she secured one of 12 coveted places on the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland’s goldsmithing course. This intensive two-year training is evident in the quality of her pieces. Chapman spent time in Paris and was inspired by the beautifully presented, bijoux shops and boutiques. She established Stonechat Jewellers with these memories in mind. A Stonechat is a little-known Irish bird. It is a small thing of great beauty, which is exactly what each piece of Stonechat jewellery encapsulates.

Interview

©Conor Mulhern

©Conor Mulhern

What was the first piece of jewellery you made?

Beyond beading when I was younger, my first piece was a silver pendant I made at the National College of Art and Design. It was my first time soldering one piece of silver to another; definitely a milestone when it comes to learning how to handcraft jewellery.

Do you train apprentices? Why is this important?

I’m a big believer in building towards the future and investing in people. Our in-house workshop is the perfect space for apprentices to work alongside our experienced goldsmiths. They receive an extremely well-rounded training in both jewellery making and retail.

What is special about the material you work with?

There is a malleability to metal which is fascinating - it’s not visible to the naked eye, but metal can be moved into the most incredible shapes! Jewellery making is precision work. It requires patience and if something isn’t right, it’s easily spotted.

Is there a memorable moment in your career?

I’ll always remember the day a customer and his fiancée came into the shop to collect their wedding rings en route to the registry office. We enjoyed a glass of bubbly together before they left us to get married – that was a truly special morning!

Ann Chapman is an expert artisan she began her career in 2007

Works

©Brendan Ryan

©All rights reserved

©Brendan Ryan

©Brendan Ryan

©Brendan Ryan

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