Breon O'Casey British, 1928-2011
Large Silver Ball Necklace, 1980
Sterling silver
40.5 x 3 x 3 cm
16 x 1 1/8 x 1 1/8 in
16 x 1 1/8 x 1 1/8 in
Unique
Breon O’Casey’s artistic education began at the progressive Dartington Hall School which he described as “a Utopian community which combined the working of the land with the life of the...
Breon O’Casey’s artistic education began at the progressive Dartington Hall School which he described as “a Utopian community which combined the working of the land with the life of the spirit through the arts.” He was taught by Naum Slutzky, former head of metalwork at the Bauhaus, and the first of several mentors to demand precision and total dedication. O'casey said of his teahcing:
'He had a special evening class, but to gain entry he set a test. He would cut a square, just proud of an inch, off the end of a steel rod and you had to file it down until each side was exactly one inch square and every angle was a right angle. It was an impossible task for an eleven year-old... But he was really testing perseverance. If you stuck at it for three evenings, he would eventually let you in.'
Breon made his first piece of jewellery in this class. Now a respected jeweller, Breon O’Casey’s jewellery is found in the collections of the Victorial & Albert Museum, London, the Crafts Council, London and the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London amongst others. O’Casey’s jewellery is always unique as he manipulated the precious metals and stones himself.
'He had a special evening class, but to gain entry he set a test. He would cut a square, just proud of an inch, off the end of a steel rod and you had to file it down until each side was exactly one inch square and every angle was a right angle. It was an impossible task for an eleven year-old... But he was really testing perseverance. If you stuck at it for three evenings, he would eventually let you in.'
Breon made his first piece of jewellery in this class. Now a respected jeweller, Breon O’Casey’s jewellery is found in the collections of the Victorial & Albert Museum, London, the Crafts Council, London and the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London amongst others. O’Casey’s jewellery is always unique as he manipulated the precious metals and stones himself.
Provenance
From the artist's estate
Exhibitions
Sculptors Jewellery, 2014/2015, Pangolin London; Breon O'Casey: Transitions, 2015, Pangolin London; Masterpiece London 2016;
Literature
Sculptors Jewellery, 2014/2015, Pangolin LondonPublications
Sculptors Jewellery, 2014/2015, Pangolin LondonJoin our mailing list
* denotes required fields
We will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.