4th February - 29th April 2007

The 6th Annual Alternative Wedding and Valentine Show

TASSELS & TIARAS

Hand-crafted collections of wedding jewellery from 20 leading designers, including very special tiaras by ‘jeweller to the stars’ Malcolm Morris.

If you are a ‘princess with attitude’, you may also be tempted by the tassels of the Show’s title – a truly cheeky collection of exquisitely decorated porcelain nipple tassels by shining new talent Nicola Malkin!

Techno-princesses’ should take note of another star in the making, David Goodwin, whose cutting-edge designs combine contemporary technology with traditional techniques and materials.

Winner of the prestigious British Design Council New Designer of the Year Award in 2004, David’s elegant rings are complex, geometric webs of fine, interwoven strands of gold, set with precious stones. Whilst the pieces’ fluid lines are actually made possible through the precision of computer aided design, each ring is unique, challenging the notion that computer-based technologies are only used in mass production. An amazing tiara made especially for the Show will form the centrepiece of David’s collection.

Jewels that sound good enough to eat come courtesy of Gallery favourite Diana Porter – her new chocolate diamond range of rings mix the subtle pale mink colour of 18ct white gold with chocolate colour natural brown diamonds, whilst renowned Danish born jeweller Tina Engell shows her sumptuous hammered gold rings set with cinnamon diamonds, smokey quartz and greeny sapphires. Marianne Anderson’s combinations of creamy pearls and rich, red garnets with pierced silhouettes of darkly oxised silver create ornate necklace and earrings sets that will add a strong statement to a classic wedding dress.

The gentle curves of Hidemi Asano’s sculptural rings, necklaces and earrings in white and yellow golds, set with precious stones, convey both the minimalist aesthetic of her Japanese background and her view that her jewellery imparts a sense of calmness and serenity to the wearer.

Welsh jeweller Mari Thomas is one of 8 designers new to the Show this year; her coiled silver and gold rings are set with diamonds delicately ‘captured’ between the coils. Amanda Doughty frequently ‘hides’ diamonds, topaz or other stones inside the band of her rings; symbolising concealed secrets or precious memories, whilst cleverly protecting the stone, the rings are surprisingly comfortable to wear.

Other highlights of the Show include: Betty Pepper’s adorable embroidered Love Hearts brooches presented in their own special boxes; Olivia Schlevogt’s rings, mostly for men, characterised by strong lines and simple shapes softened with surface texture and detail in gold and silver; tiaras by Katherine Grimes and local designers Sarah Lawrence and Sarah Collins; Fiona de Marco’s ‘Blossom’ bridesmaids’ jewellery; plus new collections from Gallery favourites such as Catherine Mannheim, James Newman, Mikala Djørup and Shona Carnegie.

Artists featured in 'Tassles & Tiaras' are: Marianne Anderson; Hidemi Asano; Amanda Doughty; David Goodwin; Tina Engell; Nicola Malkin; Diana Porter; Mari Thomas; Malcolm Morris; Betty Pepper; Olivia Schlevogt; Katherine Grimes; Sarah Lawrence; Sarah Collins; Fiona de Marco; Catherine Mannheim; James Newman; Mikala Djorup; Shona Carnegie.