HAMMERWORKS EPIC BODYWEAR

I am not having a trunk show this year as I had last, and thought if you all are pining away for a piece of Melina Hammer jewelry-sculpture, you can certainly find a way and get your fix. One of those ways is to go to Brigitte NYC on Crosby Street in Soho. Brigitte herself - from a wee place near Dusseldorf, Deutschland - decided she had to have my work in her elegant space. She purchased two coveted one-of-a-kind beauties for herself, and commissioned a series of glamorous organic works to showcase in her space. I am putting the finishing touches on them as we speak (figuratively of course), and they will be available starting this week. You can see her website here: http://brigittenyc.com. Sadly, you will not at this time see my creations on the site, but give it some time… Until then, I have photographed some of the collection for you to view, below.

Custom adaptation of the Pod Pendants, the Stamen Necklace:

Three unique sets of Stamen Earrings:

The secret interior side of the Embossed Disk Rings, with adjustable ring shanks:

A simplified medallion, in copper:

If you’re not in reach of Brigitte’s fabulous store, you can always commission me for a special custom piece. I love to hear the ideas brewing, so please reach out and drop a line if you find now is the time for that unusual, personal creation!

Happy Holidays to everyone, and may next year prove to be informative, fun, and peaceful.

My last commission was uniquely something not for the body. This is a rare but enjoyable occurrence, where someone asks me to create a compelling free-standing object. I love this challenge, and found the forging process of shaping and texturing the metal equally gratifying, knowing that people would regularly handle the sinuous shapes these leaf napkin rings possess. This set of four was commissioned for a beautiful lady in Trinidad as a wedding gift. I am lucky to have had this opportunity, and have thought of creating a line like these for people who want something distinctive in their dining experience.

One of my best clients, Jennifer Cooper here in New York City, set me to the task of creating a bold ring from a (very) large stone in her personal collection. At first attempt, the stone dwarfed its setting and proved unstable. My second endeavor to create a dynamic and sturdy setting seems to have succeeded, much to her delight. This rough boulder opal measures two inches at both of its largest dimensions, and is HEAVY. In my opinion this beauty does not belong on the hand–which bumps into things in gesturing–but Jennifer loves truly bold and unusual objects. I aim to please, and it is a stunning piece.

There is a lovely lady named Helga who for her sister’s birthday Ingrid, commissioned me to make a special ring. Helga, and I think her sister as well, has lived long enough to appreciate the most significant things in life. Her love for people is rich and expressive, as are the objects and surroundings which shape her experience. Helga traveled from her home in Germany to Ingrid in Sweden to celebrate together, and I was happy to do my part. It was an honor to be asked to create such a personal gift.

I recently completed a commission for a dear friend in London. It is a brooch for his wife who serves as the Minister of Defense for Malta. He expressly asked for an emblematic piece, similar to brooches one might find on Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State. This piece needed to invoke compassion and humanity, and we selected the icon of the dove to articulate this symbolism. I used an ancient hammer process to softly sculpt the metal, offering the abstract form of the bird and keeping literal detail to a minimum. It is finished with a hand fabricated fibula-style closure, an ancient but timeless mechanisim. She wears it on the left side, over her heart.

Amidst a series of other works, I was given the challenge to create some dynamic pieces of a simpler fashion. They are each sweet vignettes, with distinct personalities to match their new owners. Each piece required a different patience–I worked them continuously until completion, rather than setting them down at points to give myself breathing room. In this flurry of bench time, the first to come to fruition is a love-engagement ring commissioned by my dear friend Jamey:

The second is a simple and playful pendant for my Austria-bound neighbor Barbara:

and lastly, a gorgeous adaptation of my spiculum-pod forms, earrings for a local chef, for his wife Cheila:

There was a mystical woman in Harlem who had an incredible stone collection, from which I was fortunate enough to gather choice specimens. Upon seeing examples of my work and some of these rocks, my talented friend Timur Civan commissioned me on the spot to create a piece for his mother, incorporating a phenomenal uncut turquoise. I chose to elevate the stone from its setting by fabricating architectural silver risers, to showcase this jagged beauty on the chest. The weighty rock hovers, delicately suspended by front-oriented (beautiful and easy to get to) forged hooks. Everyone loves it, and she wears it regularly.