Since the age of 14 I have been designing, styling and making my own jewellery from scraps of metal wire and glass off-casts I was lucky enough to get given by a local art studio. After some years working in my own studio later on in life I increasingly became inspired by the use of wood in jewellery and the use of precious stones, and so it came to be that I started making jewellery under the name Sapphire Oak, two of the more unusual and yet beautiful materials that I like to work with.
My name is Anita and I am from Birmingham in the UK, a city which has long been hailed as one of the jewellery capitals of the world. With a large African, Pakistani and Indian population Birmingham’s jewellery district has benefited from cross cultural influence in jewellery design. Having been brought up in a British Indian family I am well aware myself of the influence of Indian jewellery on the UK jewellery industry, particularly in gem stones and gold both of which have been significant signs of wealth, beauty and prosperity throughout the ages. It is from this love of rich Indian lustrous jewellery which celebrates brightness of colour mixed with the natural beauty of England that I find most of my inspiration.
By juxtaposing the natural wood which is readily found throughout the woods and forests of England with bright precious gem stones mined from some of the furthest flung regions of the world I feel that my jewellery celebrates the best of British and World culture, fusing the two together in stark contrast that is extremely elegant.
Whilst I do make and design bespoke necklaces, the vast majority of my commissioned jewellery is in the form of bracelets and armlets. Wearing jewellery around the wrist and ankles is very traditional in India. The noise of many bracelets as they jangle together has a wonderful effect and makes me reminisce on my grandmother who was the first of our family to come to the UK. Although I tend to make pieces for close family and friends I have been asked to make several pieces for others who have heard of my work or seen it. In time I hope that www.sapphireoak.com will allow me to demonstrate more of my new creations and to allow the many people who wear sapphire oak jewellery to learn a little more about myself and my own inspirations.