Siegfried De Buck

Silversmith

©Luc Gees

©Didier Verriest

©Courtesy Siegfried De Buck

Sculptural shapes

Siegfried sees jewellery as sculptures for the body
He aspires to create emotionally charged objects
He combines noble and non-precious materials

At the age of 14 years old, contemporary jewellery designer and silversmith Siegfried De Buck started his trajectory at the Ecole des Métiers d’Arts in the Abbey of Maredsous. Afterwards he perfected his studies at the Ecole des Arts Décoratifs in Strasbourg. When he launched his own studio in 1971, the movement to redefine jewellery had just started. The idea of a piece of jewellery being a sculpture for the body, as a result of the artistic process, immediately resonated with him. Although this journey hasn’t always been the easiest one – the jewellery pieces were even called torture devices at one point, almost 50 years later the uomo universale is still passionate. He has taught his craft for 25 years and his pieces are part of museum collections around the world.

Interview

©Courtesy Siegfried De Buck

©Courtesy Siegfried De Buck

What does well made mean to you?: Something should be recognisable, but at the same time also have individuality. Besides being beautiful, it should be emotionally and conceptually charged. It should have intangible qualities. It must radiate power and have a soul.
What do you love most about jewellery?: As jewellery is sculpture for the body, it needs to make the wearer feel empowered. If the choice is right, a spontaneous communication will start. That’s why I also love to work with recycled gold: it’s a powerful, almost mythical material.
How do you combine tradition and innovation?: I was among the first to use 3D-printing, I invented the TIG welding technique and I was one of the first to use recycled gold. I also started to combine noble and non-precious materials, which still function as a leitmotiv in my work.
What would you recommend to young people?: Do what you want to do, don’t think about the public. Follow your own feeling, but stand with both feet in this world. You have to know what happens in society, and you have to be part of it, but you need to be visionary. Don’t stop reinventing.

Siegfried De Buck is a master artisan: he began his career in 1971 and he started teaching in 1986