Contemporary jewellery in Melbourne-the good the bad and the plain ugly!

Submitted by debra on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 21:31.

***Please note this is purely MY opinion-it is not mean't to upset only amuse.

Whilst in Melbourne I decided to embark on a tour of a few of Melbournes contemporary jewellery galleries.Having visited 2 years previosly I was curious to see what had evolved...

First stop Eg:Etal-the one underground next to Zambesi*(apparently the other smaller shop had closed-financially tough times and too many artists a friend who used to work there had commented).

This is quite a classy looking gallery -if you like shopping in a modern  bunker like setting.They do have some lovely pieces, however everything seems to take on the same overall look-very little stands out,apart from some of Julia de Villes gothic (she probably hates that word)blackened mourning jewellery -which has kind of been over done somewhat by SO many major jewellery companies(If I SEE another skull ring this season I will scream!!!) and after walking around for 30 minutes or so I'm left thinking this could be all from the same design institution.Thirty minutes is also the time it took for the two ladies (laughing and talking loudly) between themselves behind the counter to acknowledge my very existence.

NICE(NOT)

Then it was on to Gallery Funaki-strange name stranger gallery .Funaki IS the centre of contemporary jewellery some would say in Australia as they often exhibit overseas artists big in the jewellery world.I guess I was expecting a more dramatic gallery -instead of this corridoor of a shop with lots of stiff pull out "butcher block" like draws.

My friend and i walked around for well over 30mins we fondled alot of pieces during that time-if we were horrid shoplifting types we probably could of pick pocketed a few since not once did the sales chick lift her eyes from the computer screenonly when we said "bye" did she blearlily contain herself.

What also amazed me was how badly constructed these expensive pieces were-you can only hide so many shoddy soldering joins with oxidisation-and this was constant throughout the gallery-one word sums it up really...

OVERATED

Next was Ingot -here I did thankgod!see some very nice work -well made,great design,and a bit of originality(rare in Australian design).My only quip was the wonderful origami paper earrings-at $500.00 a pop -what happens when it rains?

Through once again we were never even acknowledged -and considering without customers you DON't have a business surely even a simple nod would have shown some simple  courtesy.We were both well dressed -and have money!

JUST RUDE

Good luck in the Recession guy's!