Unique collection
nominated for prestigious jewellery prize

Bracelets and rings made from objects found during a house renovation have earned a University for the Creative Arts (UCA) graduate a nomination for a prestigious jewellery prize.

22 Jan 2024

Linnea Thuning Hjert, from Farnham, has been nominated for the New Talents Award for her unique jewellery pieces. Made from rusty nails discovered while she was refurbishing her 1930’s home in central Farnham, her pieces combined these found objects with precious stones and fragments of clothing that never made it to the charity shop.

Linnea said: “My collection was deeply influenced by these finds and aligned with my passion for creating jewellery that not only tells a story but breathes new life into what once was. The materials I worked with, such as these nails, were more than mere objects; they were fragments of the house's history and the lives of its former occupants.”

The 45-piece collection is a celebration of life’s continuous journey and by using stitching and casting to join the objects together, Linnea also used these techniques to create different textures.

Lina Peterson, Senior Lecturer at UCA Farnham, who nominated Linnea for the award said: “She’s playful in her approach and balances notions of fragility and strength; a nail is held in place through the weave of a cloth, and a tourmaline [gemstone] is tied in place with cotton string. These are innovative ways of creating jewellery settings.”

Linnea is a mature student, previously studying at London’s British Academy of Jewellery, and she liked both Farnham and the University immediately, and knew the course was the perfect fit because the age range of the class was so diverse.

“It was a benefit being surrounded by people of different ages, experiences, and backgrounds," said Linnea. “And UCA is very peaceful and such experienced tutors, which provided a conducive working environment.”

The New Talents Award is run by Klimt02, a platform for international art jewellery and contemporary crafts.

To learn more about studying crafts at UCA, visit the course pages.