THIS POST ORIGINALLY FEATURED IN JEWELLERY TIME MAGAZINE, DECEMBER(2012), JANUARY(2013) ISSUE.
Baltic amber salvaged from the sunken Russian cruise liner, Mikhail Lermontov, was showcased in aunique exhibition at The Museum Hotel, Wellington, in October.
The Mikhail Lermontov ran aground on rocks near Port Gore, Marlborough Sounds 26 years ago.
The exhibition Lermontov: Lost and Found featured 24 amber, paua and gemstone pieces designed byThe Village Goldsmith's creative director, Ian Douglas. Ian says his vision for the exhibition was to preserve the character of the jewellery's past, but make original new works with obvious links to New Zealand.
"The works are extreme statements; larger-than-life works intended to show jewellery as an art form. We wanted to create new life from these once lost gems."
The opportunity to exhibit the work arose from lan's friendship with the Lermontov's salvor, businessman, Bill Day. Bill dropped the bag of amber off to Ian during the salvage process but, being too busy with other work, Ian put the bag to one side. It was some 25 years later, after a phone call from a Swiss client requesting a pendant that infused amber with paua, that Ian remembered his friend's gift.
"It was a bit of a 'eureka' moment. The objects and their history were a wonderful resource for the development of these new pieces. We wanted to showcase our versatility and creativity with the exhibition."
Bill Day, founder of company Seaworks, said: "The amber is significantly 'Mother Russia'. I've salvaged dozens of boats over the years, but the Lermontov was technically the hardest and deepest dive. It took considerable fortitude to do it, so seeing the amber so many years later brings back memories."
The pendants and brooches were displayed banquet-style on original, restored plates salvaged from the Mikhail Lermontov and exhibited on the Hotel's billiard tables.
