Motley and Alice Cicolini’s fine jewellery is out of this world
Moon Landing, created in collaboration with artist Simon Emery, sculpts other galaxies in car paint and enamel
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Alice Cicolini’s traditional jewels are given a contemporary spin by Motley London, who have partnered with the fine jeweller for a heavenly new collection.
Moon Landing draws tantalising orbs in Cicolini’s signature enameling technique, bringing to life a host of other worlds and galaxies. For this collection, she has collaborated with artist Simon Emery, whose work with car paint results in swirling, marbled designs.
‘I’ve admired Simon’s work for years, and I’m the proud owner of a Porsche bonnet that he’s sprayed in his distinctive style,’ says Cicolini. ‘It wasn’t much of a leap for me to suggest we work together. He’s an extraordinary inventor and creative, and I really respond to collaborating with other artists who have that passion to explore and create something new.’
The resulting collection, composed of earrings, studs, rings, necklaces and more, is crafted in gold vermeil and sterling silver. Created in Motley’s Thai atelier, it was then hand-painted at Emery’s Essex workshop and finished in Hatton Garden.
Cicolini and Emery explored different techniques for the other-worldly effect, experimenting with a custom vintage paint for the distinctive moon crater texture. ‘I really wanted to bring some of Simon’s aesthetic of classic cars and circus typography to the jewellery,’ explains Cicolini. ‘It’s the first time that this car spray paint technique is being applied to jewellery, and we’re playing with vintage paint from House of Kolor in Minneapolis as well as techniques from the 1970s to create this distinctive moon crater texture. It’s just the beginning for me I think.’
For Motley, the chance to translate the artists’ visions into accessible jewels was too good to pass up. ‘We love that this came to life,’ they say. ‘When we first looked at it, it seemed like such a mad idea – getting tiny bits of unassembled jeweller made by stone cutters, silversmiths, casters polishers around the world, then off to a garage in Essex, then to Hatton Garden again. But like all genius ideas it was worth it.’
INFORMATION
motley-london.com
Hannah Silver joined Wallpaper* in 2019 to work on watches and jewellery. Now, as well as her role as watches and jewellery editor, she writes widely across all areas including on art, architecture, fashion and design. As well as offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, Hannah is interested in the quirks of what makes for a digital success story.
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