Nick Von K: Beautiful Alchemy

This is the final collection to write about from the New Zealand jewellery label Nick Von K and features more gorgeous bone motifs as well as pounamu sculpted pieces of jewellery. There's a distinctly international flavour to the pieces; Mexican style scrolling across skulls and snake heads as well as a babushka doll! The unifying motif is the bones, bullet shells and skulls reminding us of our imminent deaths. It's not all doom and gloom though, this lovely bone cuff isn't as morose as it could be with the ends softened and not looking as touch and angular. There's a lot of weight and thickness about this bangle- I bet it could happily survive many knocks when going about doing ordinary day-to-day tasks. At $480 NZ, I will have to wait till I find some more shifts and work for myself.

The added chains to either side of the horns on these cow skulls give added security and stability to the design. While there would be some empty spaces to allow for the eye sockets would spare your poor ear lobes some weight but by adding the simple chains, you can have dangling cow skulls without them hanging askew. While having cow skulls involved in jewellery design is rare in itself, I do admire the thought taken into designing something as small as these earrings. What will they think of next?




This is the piece that really captured my imagination from this collection of Nick Von K, Inside your babushka comes a little carved pounamu babushka inside, but be warned as only the sterling silver outer casing can be worn as a pendant and its precious contents may be safer left at home on your bedside table before you go. What strikes me as odd is the Russian style wooden doll adapted with Mexican style scrolling and fitted out with a skull for a face. I can't really say I'm surprised though, having poured my eyes over every piece currently available online at the Nick Von K store the use of oxidation to blacken the body as well as the skull face and scrolling lines is polished silver are typical to this New Zealand jeweller. It was the first piece in this collection, Beautiful Alchemy, that grabbed me but I'm not sure I admire the detail on the pounamu babushka inside the photograph above looks a little lopsided to me. Also, after having written about the Garden of Eden collection I have a small fetish at the moment for snakes and reptilian.

This Mexican style snake head has a little more favour with me at the moment I'm not sure what it is definitively but ever since examining the small carved snake head necklace in turquoise I think the way Nick Von K carves the scales as well as the all important stylising of the eye is what really grabs me. It's 3.5cm in length and hangs on a 75cm long silver chain and is a typical medium/ large sized piece from the Kiwi brand. The lighting and scrolling effect almost makes the silver have a look that is similar to rose gold but make no mistake of the materials used, this is definitely silver and features a Mexican style snake head. The thing I like most about their snake heads is the fact that the look almost classy and are unique, different from anything I've seen from other brands. Hearts and bows can be done to death but it's the ground-breaking new styles and design pieces made of high quality precious metals that will win in the hearts of the young and tragically hip.

Hand carved pounamu bullet tip on genuine .308 antique plated shell casing on a 75cm stg silver chain.

Available in onyx and greenstone. (7.5cm)

Nick Von K have a habit of surprising me with the materials they use, the most shocking was a necklace carved using mammoth tusk but to use an actual antique bullet shell as a part of their pendant designs is also new to me. I have already claimed that Unearthen's range of bullet shell's stuffed with chunks of raw crystal quartz was my cup of tea but I can't resist the length of this pieces as well as the neat little nub of pounamu stone shown above. I'm also a little keen to get my hands on one of these pieces for the great little tag on each clasp which features 'Nick Von K' on one side and a crown on the other, as well as the rectangular shape of each link.

A snake shown eating its own tail has been used in mythology for centuries to represent the cycle of life and there are legends of a large snake living below the surface of the Earth having eaten its own tail in all the colours of the rainbow. While this little fella is not nearly as colourful as his legendary counter part, once again, Nick Von K has managed to woe me with fantastic and enticing detail of scales on their reptile pieces. Another ring which would make a magnificent cocktail ring, the beady eyes as well as lack of fangs of the snake prevent it from reaching it's peak intimidating and scary nature.

Nick Von K: Figures of Speech

Nick Von K has been working with jewellery and silver for years now, boasting "Jewellery has been in my blood since the mid 90's". The passion for immaculate pieces of jewellery, superb detail as well as ingenious design are clearly evident within all the collections. There's such a healthy scene of New Zealand brands and silver jewellery, almost makes me wish I made frequent trips across the sea from my native Australia for shopping sprees but fortunately I can save myself a plane ticket with the aid of online stores and shipping worldwide.

The 'Figures of Speech' collection features well-known provers immortalised as pieces of jewellery with a dark twist, for example, pictured above is two birds with one stone. Very clever, it would seem that skulls of humans and birds alike cannot be left well enough alone by this New Zealand label.

While I generally do little in the way of changing my earrings frequently, I am delighted with the detail on these little silver bird skulls. While they are dark, gritty and would be enough to make me look like a mighty witch, I know of another brand which are selling mice earrings in silver at less than $50. While the mice aren't as detailed and sculpted as these bird skulls, I only have one set of piercings and wearing an ear cuff of a dragon as well as mice earrings may look nicer than birds skulls larger than a magical dragon.

This grim necklace has been named 'It's raining Cats and Dogs' and features two lovely skull necklaces; a highly detailed brass dog skull and silver cat skull all hang on a 75cm stg silver chain. This is where the proverbs and English sayings come into play when naming their pieces. They're all speckled here and there with so many motifs spanning across the collection from flowers to animals all in the Nick Von K stylised craft which heavily features semi-precious stones and precious metals.

Once again, cat necklaces this time in black obsidian have captured my heart as well as imagination. There's something very Egyptian about the face and body of the cat, the elongated neck and the proud perching pose. The necklace has been named 'Cat's got your Tongue' and is strung on a silver chain of 75cm length. It almost looks like it could be a bottle with the long neck of the cat and the dainty features such as narrow slitted eyes, small nose and mouth as well as perky pointed ears. The black obsidian used for this pieces is absolutely gorgeous with all the smooth lines and the polished chest bouncing light back at the camera. I wish more labels would follow suit and make use of this gorgeous black stone for their pieces but as long as they don't I will become a client of Nick Von K and all the wonderful pieces made of silver and gem stones, sculpted with love and care into animals and skulls. I still have the black panther head mounted on silver as well as the cat sitting in a chair pendant firmly on my mind...

Never before have I seen a ring shaped in the likeness of a chameleon and having stared at the detail on this beast I ask the very important question- why has no one ever been game enough to try it before? While I have no personal attachment to lizards or reptiles, I can appreciate the detail and oxidised effect used to show off both the scales on the chameleon's body and eyes as well as the tree branch used to complete the ring full circle. That row of spines along the back, the globular end at the tongue of the beast as well as the scales in miniature and overall shape of the head of the chameleon are simply breath taking. For my neck cocktail ring I am definitely paying a visit to the Nick Von K online store. Just a little known fact of trivia for everyone- chameleons do not change their colour to blend in with their environment. The quirk is in fact enticed and brought about by temperature and mood.

After successfully finishing my final year of high school, and receiving my Victorian Certificate of Education, I feel I owe part of my success to elephants. For you see, half of my second language oral examination involved discussing conflict between Elephants in Sumatra and groups of farmers, and I did better than I expected but received the letter grade I had been hoping for. So it would be nice to have a little reminder of what made me happy and successful in the year that was, I studied elephants because I'm interested in animals and really want to help them in zoos and in wildlife reserves in the future. The detail of the silver coloured tusk on the black body of the elephant made of black carved horn is a cute touch.

From the Nick Von K website it is said that the designs and jewellery are inspired by the following:

We are human animals on a planet filled with wild life.
We identify with different animals because we recognise something of their spirit within us.
And as we own this spirit we become somehow more ourselves.
Skulls represent the edge of death and the door to the afterlife.
We are reminded of the spirit that has moved on to a place which we can only dream of for now.
And in dreaming we find a world of imagination.

Nick Von K: See you There

Although all the Nick Von K collections features skulls, the traditional motif for death and mortality, 'See you There' exckusively features skulls as well as other designs which evoke the tone and mood of the passing from this life to the next. Could 'See you There' be a phrase spoken between two fond friends on there death beds and refer to the next life after this one? Possible, this little theory of mine is nothing bu speculation and hearsay. While there is no confirmation of this, it's the best I can do really in light of the little information offered regarding eaach collection but while I am trying to cover as much information as possible about collection and designer, I will include this extract of biography information about how Nick Von K's jewellery came about and evolved to what it is:

I've been after a cow skull necklace for the last few weeks and I have to say, the hairline cracks which represent temporarl lines and separate one lobe from another. The carving of the nasal cavity and the combination of a brass skull with silver horns and thick, partially oxidised chain is a dream to me.

History

Jewellery has been in my blood since the mid 90's.

My break came when I started working on seasonal ranges for Ricochet in 98. I produced a costume accessory range of 20-30 pieces every 6 months.

In this work, I developed creative design processes that led to the current debut of the Nick Von K range.

I continue to design for Ricochet and the ‘Nick Von K for Ricochet’ range is now available at Ricochet stores throughout New Zealand.

Life, death, and imagination infuse the Nick Von K range. Detailed, hand-carved semi-precious stones, deer antler, and mammoth tusk are mounted on precious metal necklaces, bracelets and rings.

Nick Von K was launched at Shed 9 in Auckland on 16th September 2010.

The carved detail on this small, pounamu skull which has a smaller length of 1.5cm, (mainy of the other designs come at 3cm length, twice the size of this pint-sized beauty) on a 45cm stg silver chain. It's just the right size and has a cute little carved and polished look to it, the detail on the eye sockets, gnarled teeth and nose aren't threatening at all, I quite look the endearing look.

The neat and sharp looking elongated beak of this carved birds skull in obsidian looks rather life like inckuding some of the smallest details in the beak and eye sockets- but I don't find it threatening at all, as long as there aren't small children in the area. Last night I saw a fantastic collared shirt dress in a maxi length that's floaty, light and breezy. It reminds me a little of Scrooge from A Christmas Carol and combining that dress with the necklaces from Nick Von K's range would be a staple outfit for the university bound in the coming year.

Hand carved crystal skull on 75cm stg silver chain.
Available in assorted stones (rose quartz pictured) and sizes :
(small - $265)
(medium - $275)
(large - $325)
This larger skull has a translucent effect, I think the rose quartz has been lighted using harsh studio lights anad effected the colour as wll as the opaque nature of the stone. I was tempted to buy one of these larger Nick Von K skull necklaces but the price range isn't exactly easy-going and I need to sparingly share around my earnings from my Summer casual job.

For an extra thirty dollars NZ, you can add a beautifully crafted galleon to your small pounamu skull measuring 1.5cm and on the same 45cm Sterling silver chain. Though I am wary of the two pieces scratching together, you could easily remove the galleon from this necklace and separate the two charms for a layered effect. I love the old architectural peices add to the necklaces and skulls to individualise their looks, for example the skull with a monocle is named 'The Archaelogist" and other looks given to the gory skulls includes a turban made of a snake and a swish top hat.

Hand carved deer antler skull with coiled snake on 75cm stg silver chain.

As well as using semi-precious stones as well as silver as part of their design, Nick Von K also dabbles in using animal materials such as deer antler and even mammoth tusk. I'm reassured by the fact that deer naturally drop their antlers every season and they can be harvested without harming the animals. The scale details alongside the coiled body of the snake sitting atop the skull once again rekindles me love affair with snakes. Their scaly designs used in this brand makes me feel an odd fondness for the reptilian beasts.

Nick Von K: Jungle of Eden

Has ringing in the new year and celebrations left you feeling sluggish and hung over? Itching to start your resolutions and become a fitter, healthier and more simple version of your current self? To feed and encourage your inner nature admirer, bird watcher or animal lover the perfect solution has arisen- while searching on the Good as Gold online store and choosing what other item to buy alongside my Deadly Ponies Mr Lure I happened upon a fantastic range of necklaces using polished semi-precious stones as well as unusual animal tusks and antlers, bound using precious metals. I was very tempted to buy the panther necklace but then decided to buy a Stolen Girlfriends Club Bow ring for $50 cheaper than another online New Zealand store and could wait around/ choose another piece to buy from Nick Von K. I had been waiting some three or four years to buy the bow ring and since I saw it at the New Zealand airport when I was flat broke, I suppose that was the last straw really.

The acorn shape is true to nature and doesn't turn it into a caricature and is rather a true representation of this little nut. I usually don't the Tiger's Eye stone, but the grain of the stone is a perfect imitation of wood and the clashing colours of light gold and brown is my favourite variation. The great thing about Nick Von K and his mob is that there's room to choose the pieces you want and have a personalised order; these acorn necklaces shown here are in obsidian (black), pounamu (green), rose quartz (pink) and tigers eye (brown). If you have a personal preference or have something else in mind, you also have the choice of citrine, amethyst, adventurine, sodalite, clear quartz, smokey quartz, amazonite, crysoprase, red tigers eye and blue tigers eye, to name a few. 

For me, my Nick Von K journey and fascination began with the carved lines of this panther necklace in black water buffalo horn after having written about the Givenchy Fall/ Winter collection of 2011 which heavily featured the jungle cat in their designs of clothing as well as accessories. The fangs, large strong nose as well as flattened ears mounted on a silver base connected to 75cm of Sterling silver chain almost became mine.

I was delighted after my second day of university to find an enchanting email from the lovely chief of Nick Von K, Nick Klarwill thanking me about my little articles and gave me a run down of the maerials used for the powerful crved necklaces:

"I get everything produced in Bali where I handpick and sit down with the best local carvers I can find to do each specific design - as I see they have an affinity with my style and the idea Im trying to get across.

They carve everything from stone to wood, including the mammoth tusk which is dug up in northern Canada and Siberia - but some carvers are definitely better than others!"

Also, the black eagle head necklace and panther head necklace aren't made of onyx as one may assume.
"I should point out tho that the panther head (and eagle head) pendants are handcarved from black water buffalo horn, not onyx, which makes them actually quite light in weight."

Once in a blue moon I will find myself longing for days in old in which I could play with Doll's houses and run my fingers over there furniture in miniature. It appears however, that I am growing up and spent the last day of 2011 cleaning all the dust and junk from under my bed as well as the dusty walls. In the past two days I have added four garbage bags to the wheelie bin and am now incapacitated to clean anymore till collection day, two days away. I would love to properly decorate my room like an adult and add maybe a vanity or a french upholstered chair. Which leads me to admire the poise of this elegant and elongated cat sitting on a carved chair with detail in filigree accentuated by an oxidised touch. The two chair legs at the front in the shape of cats caught my eye and this is possibly my favourite from the Jungle of Eden collection. Your cat comes in a choice of either pounamu or turquoise, I may opt for turquoise myself.

As well as mammals and birds, there are aquatic creatures such as the octopus involved in a few of Nick Von K's collections and even this sweet little grasshopper ring. I never had a great affinity for bugs and I can't say they ever struck a chord of fear within my heart, (arachnids are not included) but I do like the mount of this sculpted beauty on the ring and the way at clings to the base. The carved detail on it's back as well as legs has a very exotic and Mexican appeal to it. It's a great statement ring for those who like to create gossip about themselves or who just enjoy the unique and unusual.

I love the paralysing stare of the Eagle, it seems so intense and yet it's just a mere carved object. The attention to detail involved for their pieces is fantastic, the carved end of the beak as well as the etched out feathers surrounding the neck of the bird is something else. Some jewellers wouldn't bother and would rather smooth it out but Nick Von K is willing to go that extra mile and use some of
the best black water buffalo horn and organic animal horns and tusks, strings them on Sterling Silver chains and gives you something to be proud to wear.

This carved orb features two polar bears grappling together in an embrace and is another piece I was considering getting myself as a belated Christmas treat but something struck me as odd when I read the description:

Hand carved mammoth ivory on 75cm stg silver chain
(3cm)

It reminds me of my sweet high school chum and best friend, Clare nicknamed the polar bear. I am probably more drawn to the design for her sake but that doesn't mean I don't love the design. I do believe that this is a special person out there, the one, that will make you feel whole like you never have felt before and that they complete you. When you find them, a great bond and unity is created and to me this is what these two hugging polar bears represents.

The last of the three snake head charms pictured above is made of rose quartz but the detail of scales is emphasised with gold inlay for a little extra glamor among such a poisonous and deadly symbol. I'm actually most captivated by the slit like eyes of the middle and smaller snake head in turquoise- it's paralyzing as well as slightly soaked in malice and the shade of turquoise is absolutely stunning in contrast to the silver mount and rectangular linked chain. The quality of the turquoise stone and without being riddled by lines of impurity it really allows the lines and detail of the scales as well as the sculptural snout and temple of the snake shine through- something that's so important when trying to market really gorgeous and unique jeweller. I can imagine it being modelled on an Indian snake charmers family heirloom- were it not for the fact it did originate from the creative mind of Nick Von K designer Nick Klarwill.