The MELBOURNE cufflink - media release

‘the MELBOURNE cufflink’

 A group exhibition of student made cufflinks

$500 acquisitive prize

Exhibition opening: Thursday 1 August  5.30-7.30pm

Exhibition: 2 – 17 August

Lord Coconut, Melbourne’s foremost men’s jewellery emporium, is pleased to announce the opening of the inaugural ‘the MELBOURNE cufflink’ exhibition and $500 acquisitive student prize.

All students who were currently enrolled in jewellery design courses at RMIT, Box Hill Institute and NMIT were encouraged to submit a pair of cufflinks to the exhibition.

Cufflink submissions were received from: Zoe Beman, Samantha Carr, Man Chiang, Linda Clark, Megan Greenwood, Henry Hazeldine, Melanie Hilder, Yu Ishito, Jana King, Samantha Lee, Chris Massey, Philip Monk, Alicia Hannah Naomi and Georgia Pignolet.

The inaugural winner of the $500 acquisitive prize, as chosen by Lord and Lady Coconut themselves from one of the 14 entries, will be announced during the exhibition opening.

The exhibition opening is a fantastic opportunity to meet the student jewellers themselves and discuss their cufflink inspirations, the jewellery techniques they employed when making the work and how they wish their jewellery career to progress after they have completed their courses.

Georgina Pignolet, when describing her sterling silver and driftwood cufflinks states “My work comes from the beauty of nature. I love what our earth can create and I just want to show this through my work”.

Alicia Hannah Naomi, when describing the inspiration behind her resin and sterling silver ‘Ablation’ cufflinks says she is inspired by “the haunting beauty and tragedy of the rapidly retreating glaciers across the Polar regions. My cufflinks are my response to the study on the effects of global warming on glacial ice conducted by the Extreme Ice Survey”.

High resolution images of all submitted cufflinks are available upon request.

Lord Coconut is Melbourne’s only retailer, gallery and online boutique selling contemporary jewellery designed exclusively for men. Lord Coconut stocks over 400 individual jewellery pieces and designer cufflinks and represents over 35 Melbourne jewellers, artisans and designers.

New work by Shelley Buttle

As an emerging new artist Shelley Buttle recently graduated (2012) from Box Hill Institute of Tafe with an Advance Dipolma in engineering technology specialising in jewellery design . She received the 'E.G etal production development award' for her outstanding dedication to production and professional practise as a jeweller.

Shelley's work is focused on making the connections between rustic raw shapes and forms, while using detailed imprints that create depth & character with each piece telling its own story. 

No Cash Value pendant in sterling silver - $240

Roman warrior pendant in sterling silver - $240

Venus pendant in sterling silver - $240

Venus Di Milo cufflinks in sterling silver - $260

Aztec Coin cufflinks in sterling silver - $260

Aztec Skull cufflinks in sterling silver - $260

Greek God cufflinks in sterling silver - $260

Roman Ruins cufflinks in sterling silver - $260

Asian Princess cufflinks in sterling silver - $260

Ghost Rider ring in sterling silver - $260

Ship cufflinks by Petr Hanzak

Ship cufflinks in titanium and sterling silver by Petr Hanzak
$440
Available in-store or online

For me jewellery is a creative outlet, designing and making hand made jewellery enables my expression as a craftsman; provides a fulfilling challenge of constructing and bringing a jewellery piece to life. I aim to design unique and novel concepts while being firmly grounded in the contemporary art and jewellery world with images that are instantly recognisable. I am a believer in simple stylish designs that are not over worked and busy. I am constantly thinking of new ideas and images of interesting objects and things that I would like to create.

This current nautical themed range grew from one concept piece and has been refined to the current range. This being my first range for the contemporary jewellery market gave me freedom to make something interesting and original to me, with strong colour that comes from the anodising of titanium. Even though this is my first series, it strongly represents my design and manufacturing style, and my enjoyment of creating pieces with good durability. Titanium presents many challenges in construction to maintain the ability to repair the pieces, but I feel it is worth it as the titanium enables the use of strong colours which gives me joy.

Black Pegasus cufflinks by Dan McGill

Black Pegasus cufflinks in sterling silver by Dan McGill
$370
Available in-store or online

Sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa, he is the winged divine horse Pegasus.

Dan McGill has been working in jewellery trade in Melbourne since 1991 and has been running his own business for 12 years. The purchase of some antiquated casting equipment from a retired jeweller several years ago has given him full control over every stage of the creative process from the chaos of molten metal to the finished piece. This independence, desire for excellence and dedication to his craft has led to a distict style which can only be described as a work by Dan McGill.

Flying Bird cufflinks by Vikki Kassioras

Flying Bird cufflinks in sterling silver by Vikki Kassioras
$275
Available in-store or online

Medieval Flower cufflinks from Ideer by Zvia

Medieval Flower cufflinks in sterling silver - $250 pair

Available online or in-store.

New Stock in-store by Melanie Rice

Local jeweller Melanie Rice has recently delivered these colourful designer cufflinks and mens ring. Get in quick or order online before they sell out.

Bush fairytale necklace by Lauren Pitt

LAUREN PITT

Bush Fairy Tale pendant

Resin, fabric cord, oxidised copper, mixed media

24cm H x 12cm W x 2.5cm D

$165 GST incl

Like a lot of Australians I grew up reading may Gibbs’ Gumnut babies and other bush fairy tales. They taught me respect for our flora and fauna and sparked wonder and awe at the magic of their secret worlds. “Humans please be kind to all bush creatures and don’t pull flowers up by the roots’ – May Gibbs.  Words to live by.

Available online.