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Contemporary
Ceramic Art Jewelry
In 1957 and 1958 the Verwoerd Studio produced a small
number of ceramic necklaces and bracelets that were especially designed
to fit the female neckline and wrist, and that featured some exquisite
glazing. The project was quite successful in an artistic sense.
However, the production proved to be highly time consuming, and was
discontinued after 1958.
As Delft jewelry was mainly a product for the tourist industry, the
demand for Delft medallions suffered severely when the economy slowed
down in 1957, and fell into a recession in the year thereafter.
Verwoerd saw this as an opportunity to diversify into a different
product, and follow his creative and artistic instincts. He designed a
special mouthpiece for his vacuum extrusion press,
as well as several other new tools for the production of ceramic
jewelry elements that were bent in such a way that they would gently
follow the neckline or wrist. The separate elements had pre-installed
holes for stringing, and rimmed edges for smart glazing. Verwoerd
probably enjoyed experimenting with new glazes and with many different
colors, of which strawberry red and ivory
seem to have been among his favorites. Both were in fact difficult to
produce in large quantities.
The necklaces and bracelets became an instant success. Large scale
marketing, however, was out of the question. Verwoerd knew the
limitations of the production process. As is illustrated by the
production figures below, his ceramic art jewelry was, and remained a
niche product that was due to be terminated when the economy recovered,
and the demand for his Delft medallions resumed.
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