Christer Jonsson & Lena Bergestad Jonsson

Studio Jungfruhuset

Jewellery maker

©Lena Bergestad Jonsson

United in love and craftsmanship

Their partnership has lasted more than 40 years
Some of their apprentices have become successful jewellery artists
The King of Sweden owns creations by Christer

Christer Jonsson and Lena Bergestad Jonsson are silversmiths, goldsmiths and jewellery artists who established their first studio in Stockholm in 1980. The married couple moved to Västervik, on the eastern coast of Sweden, and opened Studio Jungfruhuset in 2006. Lena came to silversmithing through her enamel work, and appreciates how the process for both is one of constant evolution. Besides the design process, what Christer loves most of all about his profession is developing new materials and techniques. “I aim to always add new experiences and abilities to my craft skills,” he says: “You will never be fully skilled: there is always something more to learn and to accomplish.”

Interview

©Christer Jonsson

©Lena Bergestad Jonsson

What are your influences and inspirations?: Christer: My main inspiration has been the great tradition of exquisite jewellery from the Renaissance, the Baroque era and Neoclassicism, and even jewellery objects from the 19th century. Also western classical art themes, philosophy and religious traditions.
How did you become a master?: Lena: I was trained by my husband. Initially, brilliant enamel colours aroused my curiosity. But today I often use grey titanium in combination with white silver in my works. The path from a colourful expression to an almost colourless one has been long and embellished with discoveries.
What are your specialisations?: Christer: In silversmithing, raising hollow-ware objects from a flat metal plate and repoussé chasing. In jewellery, the making of traditional objects as well as objects of my own free design in silver, gold, platinum, titanium and niobium. I am also specialised in some classical enamel techniques.
How would you define something that is well made?: Lena: When a piece of work expresses the artisan’s or designer’s idea and skill. The metals and their techniques demand a person with a big sense of precision and a lot of patience. They do not let you play and improvise without knowing their properties.

Christer Jonsson & Lena Bergestad Jonsson are expert artisans: they began their career in 1980