‘My work is inspired by the elegant solutions provided by simple geometry and a childhood love of experimentation. With its flexible, forgiving yet robust nature, leather is my perfect creative playmate. My jewellery celebrates the pleasure of the unpredictable and the overwhelming potential of this natural material.’

Tania Clarke Hall is an award-winning jeweller working in leather. Influenced by her background in chemistry and a love of Japanese design, with its wabi-sabi aesthetic, Tania’s bold and dramatic pieces are designed with a deceptively simple economy of line. She delights in moulding, slashing, scorching and colouring the leather using experimental and innovative techniques that continually push the boundaries of her medium. The result is elegant yet playful jewellery, created to be worn in a variety of ways: twisted, wrapped or draped on the body. The beauty of her jewellery is only truly apparent when worn. Then the pieces shift and change to reveal different perspectives, helical shapes and sudden bursts of colour. Tactile, warm, malleable and beautifully lightweight, her jewellery is a pleasure to wear.

 

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

Tania’s jewellery has received much critical acclaim, garnering a commendation in the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council awards in 2009. Her work has sold in the V&A, Tate Britain and Tate Modern in the UK and in The Museum of Arts & Design, New York and Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, as well as leading galleries in the UK and Europe. Her work has been showcased internationally, including Lesley Craze Gallery and Origin in London and Galerie Marzee in Holland. She was selected to be part of the Contemporary British Craft group exhibiting at NYNow in New York and has collaborated with the Southbank Centre to design a collection for their Festival Terrace shop.

Tania studied at Middlesex University under acclaimed conceptual jeweller and artist Caroline Broadhead, gaining a Ist Class BA Hons in Jewellery. She continues to work on new collections and bespoke commissions for both private and retail clients from her studio at Cockpit Arts in central London.

CRAFTING THE DESIGNS

Each stage of the making process is carefully considered, from selecting the hides to hand crafting the clasps, ensuring the highest level of craftsmanship throughout. Tania makes her jewellery from only the best full grain vegetable tanned leather, taking great care to select each hide herself. Back at the studio, the hides begin their transformation using traditional leatherworking and silversmithing skills, as well as a number of techniques unique to Tania. Rivets and clasps are all painstakingly designed and hand crafted to complement the overall aesthetic of the individual piece.