Motley's heavenly fine jewellery

(Image credit: Motley-London)

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

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Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat art trends and conducted in-depth profiles, as well as writing and commissioning extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys travelling, visiting artists' studios and viewing exhibitions around the world, and has interviewed artists and designers including Maggi Hambling, William Kentridge, Jonathan Anderson, Chantal Joffe, Lubaina Himid, Tilda Swinton and Mickalene Thomas.