Cristina Lottero
Jewellery maker
Albissola Marina, Italy
Recommended by Fondazione Cologni Dei Mestieri D'Arte
With a touch of rosary
- Cristina is self-taught in her practice as a jewellery maker
- Her background in ceramics underpins her practice in metal clay
- She adds multiple materials to create captivating texture combinations in her pieces
Cristina Lottero creates one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces in her studio on the Ligurian coast. She grew up around ceramics, working in her grandmother Pina Olivero’s workshop, a renowned local ceramicist, through the 1990s. Cristina then deepened her artistic practice while she worked at the University Campus of Savona. Since 2012, she has been designing and making each piece alone, from concept to completion, producing jewellery that bridges the ancient history of ornament and a modern sensibility. The turning point came with her discovery of metal clay as a material with which to create jewellery. "It is a process in which a metal-enriched clay is used to shape by hand, before firing in a kiln, leaving only solid bronze, copper or silver," explains Cristina. She complements her forms with freshwater pearls, leather cords and beads.
INTERVIEW
I trained in ceramics, then turned to ancient jewellery history for artistic references. The metal clay techniques that I use, like modelling, firing and finishing, I taught myself through controlled experimentation and close study of material variables.
I wanted to take ceramic forms and make them permanent, wearable, solid and lasting. When I discovered metal clay, my vision for entirely handmade jewellery became clear to me and this shift from ceramics to metal was a turning point in my professional path.
A well made piece has no structural flaws, is stable over time, and its every characteristic has been designed and achieved deliberately. It can be a jewel combining art, aesthetics and comfort with absolute originality, that will hold its integrity decades from now.
If technical knowledge, attention to detail and continuous learning are preserved then I would say no, though there is an ongoing risk of erosion in manual skills and process literacy. Keeping the practice alive through experimentation, passion and rigour is the way to ensure the craft stays distinctive.
Cristina Lottero
Jewellery maker
Albissola Marina, Italy
Recommended by Fondazione Cologni Dei Mestieri D'Arte
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+39 3283665266
LANGUAGES
Italian
Homo Faber Finds is a new service aiming to inspire admirers of craft to connect and collaborate with exceptional artisans.
We invite you to submit an enquiry here.
