Creatures with an amber charm
- Krzysztof and Eliza blend precise goldsmithing techniques with artistic enamelling
- They work with local materials such as amber
- Their jewellery is inspired by the nature of the Podlasie region
Since 2010, husband-and-wife duo Krzysztof and Eliza Bondaruk have been creating enamel jewellery in their atelier, Bondarowski. “Our work is a dialogue with metal,” they say. Krzysztof, previously a machine repair mechanic, studied goldsmithing under Polish master jeweller Jerzy Sewastianik. Eliza left her career in sales management in 2008 to learn the craft from her husband and become a jewellery maker herself. The duo’s objects often mirror floral and animal motifs. Krzysztof and Eliza work with high temperature enamelling, the cloisonné technique and traditional goldsmithing methods such as soldering, metal forming and repoussé. Their jewellery combines the craft's discipline with artistic freedom.
Interview
- How would you describe your artistic approach?
- Krzysztof: I am a versatile craftsman. I bring together mechanical engineering, machine repair through precision goldsmithing, and artistic enamelling. This interdisciplinarity allows me to create objects that are technically reliable and artistically unique.
- How is your craft tied to the area where you live?
- Eliza: Our workshop is located in Niewodnica Kościelna, in the heart of Podlasie. The region's nature is a direct inspiration for our work. We combine enamel techniques with local riches such as amber, to create jewellery that represents Podalsie's nature.
- What do people usually not know about your work?
- Krzysztof: People might not realise the effort that goes into making the smallest of pieces. Even a single enamelled ring requires several firings for it to be ready. It is a tense process: it takes one tiny mistake for the glass to shatter and ruin days of work. Jewellery making teaches humility and patience.
- What do you like most about your craft?
- Eliza: I always admire the moment when the heat of a kiln transforms a raw piece of metal and enamel powder into a gleaming, colourful object. I am fascinated by the process of creating something lasting that can be enjoyed for generations.
Eliza & Krzysztof Bondaruk are expert artisans: they began their career in 2008
Works
Where
Eliza & Krzysztof Bondaruk
