‘Rhapsody in Brass’ is a personal and expressive jewellery collection that explores the intersection of music, memory, and making. Deeply influenced by my own musical upbringing - surrounded by jazz and family performances - the collection transforms the rhythms, spontaneity, and emotive qualities of jazz into physical form. Brass, the central material, symbolises warmth, boldness, and connection to jazz instruments like trumpets and saxophones, evoking both nostalgia and heritage. Each piece is created through an intuitive, improvisational process using traditional goldsmithing techniques such as forging and hammering each piece by hand. This mirrors the unpredictability and flow of jazz, resulting in designs that are fluid, dynamic, and uniquely expressive. The collection transcends static ornamentation to become a visual symphony - where sound is reimagined through shape and form. Ultimately, ‘Rhapsody in Brass’ is a tribute to my identity, familial legacy, and the transformative dialogue between sound and craft, offering a deeply personal narrative in wearable art.
Collection Overview
Rhapsody In Brass consists of three sub-collections: Legato, Fanfare & Black Country Bugle
Legato
The inspiration for the ’Legato’ sub-collection came from looking at a plethora of sheet music that my parents keep stored in their music room. I was inspired by the way the notes appear to be dancing across the pages, and even without knowing how to read music, you're able to grasp the essence of the piece of music through the bold lines and curves the of cascading notes.
Brass, powder coated earrings
Gold plated brass earrings
Gold plated brass earrings
Fanfare
The ‘Fanfare’ sub-collection is derived from the direct definitions of the word – “a short or lively sounding of trumpets” or “a showy outward display”. I wanted this sub-collection to be a complete celebration of the trumpet; subverting its original form into body adornments, using materials such as camel bone to imitate the keys of the trumpet.
Gold plated brass, hand-carved camel bone inlay earrings
Gold plated brass brooch
Gold plated brass, hand-carved camel bone inlay bracelet
Gold plated brass ring
Black Country Bugle
The ‘Black Country Bugle’ sub-collection is inspired by a story my Grandfather told me about an antique bugle from the 1800s he found completely flattened; he took it to a man in the black country and transformed the bugle back to its original, intended form. Not only is it a fond memory of my Grandfather, but it’s also a brilliant anecdote that highlights the plasticity and omni-morphing qualities of metal– emphasising the potential of my chosen material and how I celebrated it.
Gold plated brass earrings
Gold plated brass earrings
Gold plated brass ring
