Golden chemistry between clients

Every year jewellery designers and goldsmiths Mirjam Jakubowski (1958) and René Vlasblom (1955) are present at Sieraad Art Fair: they have been participants from day One. Regular visitors of the fair recognize Mirjam by her wild, red curls and René by his unusual shirts. The two of them make their own, individual work and work together under the labels Casjèh and Mayestic Muse.  Both brands are a guarantee for unusual, yet very wearable rings. The two goldsmiths also create jewellery together commissioned by private individuals. They share a studio in Culemborg and their new shop with adjoining studio will shortly open in the heart of the friendly, historical town of Buren.

Liliën Macnack and Diana Tempelman are two friends who asked Mirjam Jakubowski and René Vlasbom to convert their inherited family jewels and some of their own jewellery that they had grown tired of into new pieces. Below follows their personal account of the creation of a number of unique pieces of jewellery.

 During their visit to Sieraad Art Fair in 2018 Liliën and Diana met Mirjam and René. It was a pleasant encounter and they subsequently visited the jewellery designers in their studio in Culemborg. Here they discussed the origin of and their attachment to the old jewellery, as well as their wishes and preferences regarding the jewellery they wished to have made. After a few sessions of evaluation and discussion, creative ping pong, as Tempelman calls it, the new pieces of jewellery were ready. Traditional heirlooms had been transformed into spectacular, but very wearable contemporary jewellery. The old pieces have been given a new life, are once again worn and their history is still visible – an exceptional project. During the design process the contact between client and contractor was not only important, but also highly enjoyable. This is how Tempelman describes it: I felt invited to be part of the creative process and to participate in the evolution of the new piece of jewellery.