Nature-inspired jewellery
- Barbara creates handmade jewellery rooted in long held goldsmithing techniques
- Her designs feature matte gold, burnished edges and vibrant precious stones
- For six years, she served as the president of the American Jewelry Design council
Born into a winemaking family in Germany, Barbara Heinrich grew up roaming vineyards and fashioning jewellery out of whatever she found underfoot, from snail shells and broken glass to apple seeds. Prior to her her studies in fine art at Pforzheim College of Design, she held a three-year formal goldsmith apprenticeship in Germany, which helped sharpen her technical skills and her artistic vision. “I knew I did not want to go the trade route and that creativity and design were my strengths,” she says. Barbara earned a masters in fine arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York and has run her own jewellery design studio since 1986, where she crafts nature-inspired pieces primarily in 18 carat gold featuring richly coloured gemstones.
Discover her work
INTERVIEW
My work is strongly rooted in ancient goldsmithing techniques and is primarily inspired by nature, travel and the contemporary culture I live in. I believe in having a dialogue with my work, with the intent of creating an authentic piece of artwork that is delightful to wear.
In the USA I was asked for the first time to put myself, my authentic spirit, into my pieces. For me, that meant drawing on nature, which is the place where I feel the most creatively stimulated. In Europe, I would say the emphasis is more broadly on creating pieces that align with contemporary aesthetic principles.
I love designing and drawing. I always have a pen and paper with me wherever I go for sketching down my ideas. The amount of time I spend on the bench varies from week to week but I never stop designing, either in my head or on paper.
I urge young makers to participate in jewellery design competitions to gain visibility in the professional world. It is free publicity. Also, photograph everything you make and participate in social media. Find your own voice so you can promote self-discovery and create authentic work.
