R
ather than adding another concert
ticket to an already bursting notice
board full of pictures, programmes
and other various acknowledgments of happy
memories like the rest of us, Clara Breen has
chosen a different way to showcase her keep-
sakes - by wearing them.
French jewellery designer Clara Breen
has produced a way of allowing you to (quite
literally) hold on to your reminiscences,
whilst also providing them with a stunning
physical appearance. She works with the “tan-
gible remains of a personal experience” to
create unique items of jewellery that are
more than welded metals, stones and pearls.
These are wearable occasions.
The experienced exhibitioner began her
collection of unique pieces in 2005 by taking
slices of leaflets, train tickets and receipts, and
integrating them with silver to create mod-
ern, statement jewellery. By fusing the paper
that denotes a certain place and time with
expertly crafted silver, Breen creates the
opportunity for the story to be retold to the
wearer each time they put it on, and proudly
share the emblem of their experience with
the world.
Clara explains the inspiration behind her
work by saying, “We often keep hold of train
tickets and photographs to remind ourselves
of a past experience. Combining these with
silver, I play with the notion of preciousness,
reinterpreting the keepsake.”
The sentimentality that is subtly chan-
nelled in Clara Breen’s jewellery collection
integrates two very separate styles, and both
are vying for your attention. Romance is
established through the very essence and
originality of the piece; the idea of encapsulat-
ing a memory to withstand the numbing
effect of time, ensuring its continuation.
However, the romanticism of the idea is neu-
tralised by the severity of the appearance.The
numerous slices of paper shooting through
the heart of the piece protect the memories
BITE
JEWELLERY
Clara Breen’s Emblems of Experience
WE NEEDN’T WORRY ABOUT DISCARDING USED MATERIALS SUCH AS PAPER,
CONCERT TICKETS, RECEIPTS AND LEAFLETS CONSIDERED AS GARBAGE ANY
LONGER AS THEY CAN NOW BE CREATED INTO USEFUL MEMORABILIA AS
BRADDA UNSWORTH DISCOVERS.