Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Pod brooch

Brooch
1999 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Jane Adam's jewellery shows the extraordinary versatility of aluminium. Her extensive research into the properties of this metal and her fine appreciation of colour and line combine in the subtle colours and shimmering textures achieved in this brooch.

To create this effect the aluminium is first anodised by immersing it in a solution of sulphuric acid and water then passing an electric current through it. This forms a thin surface film of aluminium oxide which is very tough yet has microscopic pores which enable colouring dyes to be absorbed. After dying the surface is sealed. Shapes for jewellery are cut from the dyed and sealed sheet, and these are then compressed in a rolling mill, adding texture or crazing to the surface. As anodised aluminium cannot be soldered the assembling of a piece often requires the addition of minimal wires and findings to the design.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePod brooch
Materials and techniques
Dyed, anodised and crazed aluminium, with green gold leaf, dyed cultured freshwater pearl and stainless steel wire
Brief description
Pod brooch made from dyed, anodised and crazed aluminium, with green gold leaf, dyed cultured freshwater pearl and stainless steel wire. Designed and made by Jane Adam, London, 1999.
Physical description
Pod-shaped brooch made from aluminium that has been anodised, etched, dyed in an abstract pattern in red, green, ochre and purple, and crazed. The edges of the pod do not meet, allowing the gold leaf on the inside surface to be seen and also a single pearl, free-moving, like a pea within.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.05cm
  • Width: 2.38cm
  • Depth: 1.59cm
Credit line
Given in honour of Elizabeth Goring
Summary
Jane Adam's jewellery shows the extraordinary versatility of aluminium. Her extensive research into the properties of this metal and her fine appreciation of colour and line combine in the subtle colours and shimmering textures achieved in this brooch.

To create this effect the aluminium is first anodised by immersing it in a solution of sulphuric acid and water then passing an electric current through it. This forms a thin surface film of aluminium oxide which is very tough yet has microscopic pores which enable colouring dyes to be absorbed. After dying the surface is sealed. Shapes for jewellery are cut from the dyed and sealed sheet, and these are then compressed in a rolling mill, adding texture or crazing to the surface. As anodised aluminium cannot be soldered the assembling of a piece often requires the addition of minimal wires and findings to the design.
Collection
Accession number
M.14-2008

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMay 8, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSON