Avant Garde have made a and bold and creative move to sponsor a lifesize fibre glass cow in an exciting public art event in Cornwall this summer.
The herd of 20 strong, fabulously decorated cows are popping up all over Cornwall, bringing a bit of light relief to locals and hardy visitors on their rain-soaked ‘stay-cations.

Our very own cow, aptly named 'Metalsmoo', occupies a windswept cliff top position in the shadow of probably the most photographed of the county’s derelict tin mines. The deserted stack and buildings at Wheal Coates near St Agnes form part of the World Heritage site associated with Cornwall’s mining landscape.  

We wanted to give Metalsmoo some context within the Cornish landscape and so by working with fine artist and animatronics design engineer Simon Williams we created our magnificent over-sized tin toy, complete with bright paintwork and metal wind-up key. Symbols on the cow represent the metals mined or found in the area: tin, copper, gold, and silver. Simon has painstakingly painted over three hundred metal rivets. The Sun represents gold, Jupiter for tin, Venus for copper and the Moon for silver.

"My enthusiasm for the project was ignited the minute I heard about it - I love it's quirkiness and sense of fun, as well as the fact that it's art in an accessible and unpretentious form. Creativity can sometimes be thin on the ground in business, and the opportunity to get involved with public art doesn't come along often, so it was impossible for me to resist." - Diddy Reeve

Metalsmoo in all her glory 

Metalsmoo with founder of Avant Garde and artist Simon Wiliams

At the historical and iconic Wheal Coates tin mine 

 Buy her at auction on 13th September - phone bidding available! 

 The Interview  Find out why colour and materials are so important to innovative designer Carole Leonard 

Carole, having worked in the jewellery industry for 40 years you must have created hundreds of designs but is there an underlying concept behind all your jewellery?
Yes, absolutely, I see jewellery as something for people to wear not objects to be admired in a locked cabinet. A ring belongs on a finger, not in a showcase. All my pieces are intended to be worn everyday with the wear of the jewellery making it very personal to them.

Talk us through your design process, I’m curious to know how you go from concept to creation.
I guess I am slightly different in my approach to other designers. Rather than having an idea, sketching it, then making it, for me, it is very much the materials I use that dictate what I make. I like to use the pure material potential and go with its strengths and weaknesses to create different effects and shapes.  

Like many of our designers you take commissions, can this be a hinder to your design styles?
Not at all, I absolutely love working on bespoke pieces, in fact it makes up about half of all my work. It’s about incorporating my own designs with peoples ideas. It’s amazing really, I get to work at positive times, it’s usually a special occasion of some kind which allows me to share in that experience to help them create a piece of jewellery that will make someone very happy.

Silver and Perspex Rings by Carole Leonard

Silver and Perspex Bangles by Carole Leonard

Gold & Silver Spiral Ring by Carole Leonard

 Carole Leonard at Work

Perpex & Silver Necklace by Carole Leonard

 Avant Garde Celebrates its 5th Birthday - Lucky guest wins a dazzling pink sapphire 

To mark the five successful years, friends, family and customers were treated to a party at Vanilla Bar in Truro, where Pimms and champagne kick-started the celebrations. Guests had the chance to win a pink sapphire, which revealed itself in the bottom of one lucky person’s champagne glass.

Winner of the surprise, Ellis Luckhurst MD of Ellis Luckhurst Fresh Produce Solutions found the sapphire glinting at the bottom of his drink:

 

Pink Sapphire Winners Ellis & Jemima Luckhurst

Frances & Hannah - Hall For Cornwall

 Jane Adam Returns with a Passion for Heavier Metal 

We have admired the work of Jane Adam for a while now and we did in fact stock her feather light aluminium jewellery in the Padstow shop at the very beginning of Avant Garde's life. Jane's designs have progressed to include a beautiful range of silver creations. We have chosen Jane's work for their ability to successfully combine the ever contemporary nature of silver with the traditionally thought of gold, bringing the metal into the forefront of contemporary design.

With a masters in metalwork and jewellery from The Royal College of Art, as well as a degree in three-dimensional design, Jane has a real grasp of her materials and uses this knowledge to emphasise their strengths, resulting in a very unmistakeable style unique to this innovative woman.

Jane uses a specialist type of metal only available in America. Consisting of silver sheet with 18ct gold fused to to it. The gold makes up 25% of the sheet and unlike plating it won't ever wear off. The result is an unusual bi-metal characteristic of her recent designs complimented by the beautiful subtlety of the satin finish.

Jane's jewellery has been recently purchased by a number of prestigious institutions, including the Victoria and Albert Museum. Two dyed aluminium brooches, a bangle and a pair of earrings were bought by a private donor in honour of Dr Elizabeth Goring. Jane's work is already very collectable, however the acquisition of selected pieces of her jewellery to be displayed in such notable organisations will undoubtedly increase its collectability and future value.

Jane Adam commented: “It is a very great honour to have my pieces purchased by museums, particularly such eminent ones as these. It is wonderful to know they will be kept and treasured, and thus will from a small part of our culture. But my pleasure is tinged with sadness. It is a pity that they will never come to life through becoming part of a wearer’s experience and expression of herself.”

Silver and Pearl Pod Neckpieces by Jane Adam

Silver bangles by Jane Adam

Jewellery Designer Jane Adam

 Pod Brooches in  silver and 18ct gold by Jane Adam

Jack, you are a much loved and popular designer at Avant Garde. What inspires your designs?
I knew you would ask that question! Modern sculptors such as Hepworth, Brancusi, Caro and Calder are a big influence as well as a lot of old industrial machinery. It sounds odd as a lot of my designs are very soft, but the original concept is often something far more mechanical.

A lot of people are surprised to discover your age of 71 years. I'm presuming you don't read Vogue, so how do you keep your designs so fresh and young?
I spend a lot of money on magazines, too much, I should probably cut down. We buy Grand Designs Magazine, Elle Interiors, House and Garden, Wallpaper and a few others. The Sunday Times Style Magazine is also a great form of unexpected inspiration for me.
I tend to cut out things that catch my eye such as a blonde model in the Times Style Mag' who wore these fantastic sunglasses with slits in the side; I liked the slits and so kept the picture and stuck it on my pin-board.
Another one was this black and white dress I saw in a magazine, I couldn't work out whether it was the black or the white that fascinated me so I saved it. All sorts of weird and wonderful ideas can come from something as simple as this.
I am a bit more relaxed these days, and although my head is buzzing with new ideas I also enjoy making familiar pieces - as with VW cars, the classic designs are always appreciated.

If life were different, what can you see yourself doing career wise?
Well, I was talking about this with my friend Jeremy the other day and we decided that the best job would be to work as a road mender where you can sit in a lorry all day drinking cups of tea and enjoying the view of angry motorists!

That's naughty Jack! But funny nevertheless. So based on your recent aspirations to be a road-mender, I'm guessing you won't be playing such an active role in the art community as I believe you do at the moment?
Do I? Well I do go to exhibitions and I am a member of Cornwall Crafts. In particular I like to go to the Exchange in Princes Street, Penzance. It has a fascinating wavy glass frontage and as a lover of architecture I do like to go there especially in the evening with the lighting effects by Peter Freeman.

It is said that behind every successful man is a woman. Is there a lady in your life that helps out with the business?
Yes, my partner Hilary. I would find it very difficult indeed to run the business without her; in fact I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for Hilary. Everything is on the computer, and to be honest I struggle to turn the thing on. She's up there now doing something, listing products, giving items codes, making spreadsheets. Not only that, she is a fantastic salesperson, far better than I am, yes she works incredibly hard for the business.

We know that you have an incredibly strong work ethic, what do you do to relax? I understand you're a reluctant Yoga goer?
No! Hilary does try to convince me but I'm holding my ground. I do like my telly and believe it or not we have started to watch Jeremy Kyle! I find it fascinating.
I am also a great lover of gardening. For several years we have joined the village open gardens day where people can come and wander round. The studio is also open then so people can have a look at my work if they like.
The money raised from the open gardens goes to a locally-based charity called ACE which raises money for primary schools in Kisoro, Uganda. So the maintenance of the garden keeps us very busy.

You originally trained as a sculptor and letter-cutter. What is your most recent piece of lettering work?
 I have been invited as one of 54 lettering specialists to exhibit at the National Art & Memory Exhibition for which I have made two slate letters A, each two feet tall. It is taking place at the Edward James Foundation's West Dean Gardens in Sussex this summer. It is organised by the Memorial Arts Charity whose work has led a renaissance in beautiful and dignified memorials. I was elected to Letter Exchange in 1988.

Many of our customers won't know you for your sculptures and bowls. Birds seem to form a common theme for much of your work - are you a secret twitcher?
No way! I do like birds and funnily enough I am always thinking on aeroplanes: they have a magnificent shape, so perhaps it's their streamlined form that I gravitate towards rather than the animal.

Being a jewellery designer's partner, can Hilary predict what she gets for Birthdays and Christmas?
No, I'm quite good actually. She's more into horses so I try to buy her things horse-related rather than being naughty and giving her jewellery from my stock, although she does borrow occasionally.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery?
That's incredibly hard to answer! I do have some pieces that are unique, things that I have designed, that I love, which may never get into the galleries. I ought to do something with them but I'm just too busy.

You are well known for your concave rings with mobile hoop. When did you make your first one?
I reckon I invented that design you know. It's a very popular shape now but I am pretty sure I was the first to design it. I submitted it to a Loot exhibition at Goldsmiths' Hall in London over thirty years ago and since then they have become a very popular contemporary design. In 1990 I became a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.

Your designs often have a heart theme. Are you a traditional romantic?
I'm a sort of sensitive person, I wouldn't say a romantic as such, but I like to think the heart-shaped jewellery is my softer side making an appearance.                                    March 09

 Queen of the Bespoke

London based and world renowned architectural jewellery designer Vicki Ambery-Smith has created some stunning commissions for us over the years.

Sheila Butler who lives in the shadow of Brunel's Royal Albert Railway Bridge which spans the river Tamar at Saltash in Cornwall, came to us to commission a brooch in the image of the bridge to celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary. Mrs Butler's family have had associations with the bridge over many years. The unique brooch of silver will be an heirloom for Mrs Butler who was delighted with the outcome.

We were also approached by architect Jonathan Ball M.B.E with the idea of marking his wife's birthday with one Vicki's exquisite pieces. Jonathan, a co-founder of the Eden Project and president of the Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain, has recently completed a year as Master of The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects. Jonathan's wife Victoria became the Mistress of the Worshipful Company for a year.

The brooch, as with all Vicki's enchanting creations, is a replica in miniature of an architectural structure. The subject chosen for Jonathan and Victoria's brooch depicts in silver and 18ct gold Temple Bar, the masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren which is also the insignia of the Architects' Livery Company. Originally constructed in 1650 Temple Bar defined the boundary between the City of London and the City of Westminster. The splendid stone structure has been reinstated close by St Paul's Cathedral and forms the gateway from the Cathedral precinct through to Paternoster Square.

Jonathan's wife said upon presentation of the brooch; "This is a beautiful piece of jewellery which will always bring back happy memories of a hectic but thoroughly enjoyable year."

If you would like to commission a piece of Vicki's work please do get in touch.

 Modern Classics to Engage With

 Marquise diamond engagement ring by Aurum Jewellers 

Oval Pink Sapphire and Platinum ring by Aurum Jewellers

Red Gold and Platinum Commitment rings by Aurum

  Vivienne Westwood's loss is our gain!

At London’s largest and most prestigious jewellery fair recently, we were struck by the quirky originality Louise Wade - well, her designs to be more precise - so scooped her up immediately. Louise has ‘done her time’ with a degree in Jewellery Design, followed by an apprenticeship with Hatton Garden jeweller Nicholas Phillipe. Louise went on to work as assistant jewellery designer at the legendary British design house Vivienne Westwood, and with another four years of experience under her belt, she left to launch her own ranges.

We think Vivienne Westwood’s loss is our gain! Louise’s delicate and feminine Swallow Collection also manages to be contemporary and wearable, and we think our customers will love it.

Available in silver or gold plated silver which won’t break the bank, the swallow silhouettes come alive when worn – how could they fail to make any wearer feel special? louise's designs will be available to buy within coming weeks - watch this space.                                                   Sept '08

Silver 'Swallow Necklace by Louise Wade

First Class jeweller to the stars 

We've had our eye on young designer Rachel Galley for some time, so we are delighted to announce that we will be selling her Teardrop collection in amethyst and onyx with Avant Garde online and in the shop.

We know well that formal training isn’t everything, but we can see why Rachel graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design with a First Class Honours Degree in Jewellery Design. Since then, she has worked for some of the most prestigious brands in the luxury jewellery market such as Links Of London, Stephen Webster and Boodles, before setting up her own business two years ago. Unique designs have been created for the singer Lily Allen and actress/singer Juliette Lewis, as well as being worn by TV presenters, musicians and models.

We will bring you Rachel’s work within the next few weeks.                                            Sept '08

 Silver and Onyx 'Teardrop' earrings by Rachel Galley

Silver and Onyx 'Teardrop' pendant by Rachel Galley

SARAH JORDAN JEWELERY NOW IN! 

Diana Porter Now In - Buy Online