Vita Pukštaitė-Bružė

Jewellery maker

©Andrius Bružas

Making the invisible visible

There's a story behind each of Vita's pieces
She isn't satisfied with her work until it is perfect
She uses the sophisticated technique of transparent enamel

Lithuanian jewellery maker Vita Pukštaitė-Bružė avoids brash, eye-catching colours and forms. Although her studio is located in the heart of the Old Town of Vilnius, she draws inspiration from Lithuanian nature. She is most interested in the plants we pass by without usually noticing them, such as bentgrass, thistles, pine cones and needles; everything that surrounds us but we don’t always appreciate. She transforms these objects of nature into jewellery using silver, semi-precious stones and, above all, enamel. A graphic print is engraved on the silver base and then covered with transparent enamel. The result is jewellery that radiates quiet happiness.

Interview

©Andrius Bružas

©Andrius Bružas

What qualities do you think are essential for a jewellery maker?: It takes stubbornness, patience, passion and rage; you need to get a little angry. But, most importantly, it takes motivation; you need to want to create a good thing. When you start doing it, then comes diligence and other qualities.
What inspires you?: What is invisible at first glance, what is modest and avoids attention; something that touches you, hooks you in and becomes important. Like those flowers – they are not glamorous roses, but meadow or roadside flowers that you don’t notice, but they are as beautiful, just in a different way.
What is your favourite technique?: Enamelling. It took an awful lot of experimentation to develop a feeling for what enamel wants, how to talk to it to make everything work. If the shade is not spot on, I immediately feel it. Enamel is something completely mystical. I love it immensely.
What do you think makes a good piece?: When you look at it and see that everything is fine. You develop a sixth sense so that, after making myriad mistakes, you can feel that with this particular piece you actually didn’t make any. You start to see some sort of inner truth that the outer image has to match.

Vita Pukštaitė-Bružė is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2005