Globally inspired designer Lois
Hill has traveled the world,
unearthing ancient techniques
from across continents and
cultures. Fusing and combining
these incredible lost arts in
very non-traditional ways, she
creates classic, contemporary,
sterling silver jewelry that is
rooted in history yet entirely
unique.
Hill's signature style combines
3 different, entirely unrelated
techniques, beginning with hand
carving using hammer and chisel,
a most primitive technique
dating back to the Stone Age.
Hill then combines the Etruscan
technique of granulation -
meticulous detail with tiny
spheres of sterling silver
(dating back to 3000 B.C.)- with
contemporary filigree. It is
this incredible juxtaposition
that yields such a wonderfully
textural and unusual line of
wearable art.
The designer also holds a strong
passion for rare textiles from
around the world and has
incorporated a variety of
textile-like weaves into her
sterling jewelry line. Her
signature weaving techniques
vary in form, yielding amazingly
flexible and tactile bracelets
that have
bold, lateral flexibility as
well as intricate weaving
patterns. One such weave is an
18th century continuous wire
weave, hand woven from a single
wire. This unique art can yield
anything from a tiny cufflink or
ring, 1 cm in size, to a
full-length belt that takes over
one month to hand weave. The
pattern is precise and the
detail magnificent.
Another weaving technique with
an altogether different flavor
originates in India, also in the
18th century. It is bold and
dynamic, consisting of
meticulously aligned
figure-eights of sterling
silver. The weave is striking
and unapologetic, providing a
distinctive
movement and weight.One of
Hill's most precious weaves is
actually a textile weave in
metal originating from hill
tribes in Northern Thailand. It
is comprised of tiny jump rings
woven like a textile and is so
intricate that only about one
inch per day can be hand-woven.
The craftsmanship, detail and
beauty are unmistakable.