The Craftsman Shop x Amy Brandenburg: Inlay Inspired Jewelry Now Available
Meghan Fletcher, Manager of The Craftsman Shop
The Craftsman Shop is proud to present this timeless suite of jewelry, inspired by intricate inlay designs found in the Museum’s collection. Developed exclusively with Amy Brandenburg, a talented and well-known designer who predominantly creates jewelry inspired by Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts Movement.
The project started with an idea; to create wearable examples of the inlay found within the Museum’s collection. Together, staff at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms worked closely with Amy Brandenburg to develop this suite of unique jewelry designs that we are excited to debut!
Designs originally created in pewter, copper, and fruitwood have been painstakingly handmade into unique pieces of art that can be worn proudly to show your interest in Gustav Stickley’s furniture and the designs of the Craftsman Workshop. This range comes in a variety of sizes and styles to satisfy your own preferences. Choose between bold or delicate designs that suggest your passion for Craftsman furniture, and are a subtle ode to well-made designs, both by the original artist and by Amy Brandenburg.
About the Artist
Amy Brandenburg, the artist and designer for Amy Brandenburg Studios, handmakes her jewelry in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. She creates modern heirlooms in fine silver that are skillfully designed and executed, and timeless.
These designs are initially created in precious metal clay (PMC), a medium that captivates Amy due to the transformative properties of the material that turn into fine silver jewelry.
Precious Metal Clay (PMC) is composed of microscopic particles of metal, suspended in an organic binder. It creates a material that has the feeling and working properties of clay. The artist can design and form the material using tools that give shape, texture, and character. The objects are then dried and placed in a kiln where they are heated to temperatures approaching the melting point of the metal. A wonderful transformation then takes place. As the binder fires away, you are left with a piece of pure, fine silver, metal jewelry that can be adorned with beautifully colored enamels.
Origin, Development and Debut
If you are lucky enough to have attended the annual National Arts and Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, then you may be familiar with Amy’s beautiful jewelry designs. Staff from the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms had been intrigued and inspired by Amy’s timeless and well-crafted designs. After brainstoring a collaboration in 2023 at the conference, this jewelry line was steadily developed over the next year.
The Museum provided images of the beloved inlaid furniture found in our collection to serve as a point of departure for the project. Amy was immediately drawn to the simplicity yet complex nature of the various inlay designs. She began transforming these intricacies into her preferred medium.
Initially, Amy created prototypes inspired by the inlaid furniture. Together, the artist and staff of the Museum had numerous brainstorming sessions where they determined the ideal size, color, and designs of the fine silver jewelry that Amy had created. Amy diligently continued to progress the designs into this suite of unique jewelry.
We soft launched the full line of jewelry at the 38th National Arts and Crafts Conference, in Amy’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. Attendees got a sneak peek at our prototype pieces, and were even able to take home a unique souvenir. We are excited to officially debut this custom line of fine silver jewelry inspired by the inlaid furniture in the Museum’s collection.
Continue reading below to learn more about the designs and styles available.
Piano Inlay
This design was adapted from the inlay panels found on the piano in the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms’ living room. The same inlaid panels appear on the sideboard Stickley designed for the Craftsman Restaurant, on the 12th floor of the Craftsman Building off of 5th Avenue in Manhattan, opened in 1913. The piano inlay inspired pendant and matching earrings are available here.
New Craftsman Piano, Collection of the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms
Armchair Inlay
Both Images on Right: Inlaid Armchair, Collection of the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms
These designs were adapted from the inlay panels found on the inlaid armchair and inlaid rocker in the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms. Choose between an articulated pendant design, with bails that adds movement and whimsy to the design, or the bold static pendant design. The designs inspired by the armchair inlay are available here.
Girls’ Bedroom Furniture Suite Inlay
The inlay that inspired these designs can be found on the suite of bedroom furniture that was custom made for Gustav Stickley’s daughters’ bedroom at Craftsman Farms. This inlay design has been adapted to a variety of styles available with and without enamel. Combinations of a beautiful light blue and golden yellow enamel accentuate the designs and resemble the original colors of the inlay panels. The jewelry designs inspired by the bedroom furniture suite are available here.
Inlaid Bed, Collection of the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms
To see all available pieces in the inlay inspired jewelry suite by Amy Brandenburg, click here.