These two designers are expert craftswomen, both creating intricate pieces that have a liquid-grace to their forms that make them seem to the wearer as if they are still alive with a kind of magic. Both designers explain how their work is inspired by folklore and fairy tales. 

Rekami Stworzone is the jewellery studio created by Polish designer Iwona Tamborska. The name references the hand-made processes Iwona uses to sculpt unique pieces from silver. Her work is inspired by nature and influenced by fairy tales and imagined magical creatures. Each piece is one of a kind, and Iwona considers each a soulful work of art.

“I practice the art of noticing,” says Iwona. “Small everyday details stimulate my imagination and make me see any creature or phenomenon as something purely magical and amazing. That is what I show in my jewellery: the magical world that we are surrounded by and the stories that might be happening around us, if we could only notice them. I don’t want my jewellery to be trivial – I want it to be a statement of a soul.

Bianca-Maria Bolum has a background in fine art and her pieces are a testament of her highly creative mind. She sees each item as a “little sculpture”: all wearable pieces of art. 

“I have always loved working with my hands,” says Bianca, “feeling the raw material turning into a valuable creation beneath my fingers. I constantly work towards improving my technique and my designs, striving to be a master craftswoman not so far in the future.”

Bianca fuses different materials and methods, drawing on a foundation of metalsmithing. She uses gemstones and precious metal for their times and versatile qualities but is also drawn to other natural materials such as wood and seashells, paper and textiles.

“My jewellery is meant to inspire, to pose questions, intrigue and make a statement. I love incorporating alternative materials that hold a story and make an impact. The poetic textures of wood and shell, the ingenious refinement of resins and textiles, the delicacy of paper and petals, each with their unique features that can enrich a design narrative.”

Take a closer look at Bianca’s creations and you will see how intricate her work is. One of her featured pieces on our Cluster shop, the Bejewelled Stag Tiara, is a testament to artisanal methods. Part of an eight-piece collection that is inspired by a traditional Romanian fairy tale that presents a coming-of-age story. The collection addresses the difficulties of young adults in the contemporary world and offers escapism in the realm of fantasy.

“The Bejewelled Stag Tiara is one of the most laborious jewellery pieces I’ve made. It took several months,” explains Bianca. “Each segment of it has been carefully wire wrapped in silver and copper by me using an embroidery-style pattern, then soldered together piece by piece. The central piece has been hand-carved and cast in copper with another embroidery-inspired motif, and the stones have also been cast in resin and set by me. It is a completely one-of-a-kind piece that makes a powerful statement.”

Iwona’s stunning Heart of Medusa necklace is also a piece inspired by mythology. Like much of Iwona’s work, the piece has a political undertone with its feminist narrative. Inspired by Medusa – a creature part mythical, part divine – the piece is about femininity. 

“The body on the Heart of Medusa is made of an icicle of natural rock crystal, which I found myself during one of my geological expeditions in Lower Silesia. The whole work is kept in ice-white colours, except for her heart, which is made of rainbow Ethiopian opal. In her hand she holds a piece of this heart that she is offering to someone. Women, no matter how divine they seem to be of origin, give away their hearts for love and this is often a spark that creates their uniqueness. What happens to that heart and to the woman herself, depends greatly on the person who receives it.”

Both Iwona Tamborska and Bianca Bolum’s work forms part of the Cluster Jewellery Collection 2023 and can be viewed on our website and our online shop.

BUY REKAMI STWORZONE WORK HERE