Sometimes, simple beauty is enough. The classical jewelry of Petra Class is an example of this.

”I am endlessly fascinated with gemstones, precious or not...by the wealth of different reds found in nature, by the sea of blues, the opaqueness of lapis, the transparency and subtlety of a lightly lilac-colored sapphire. One can almost paint with these stones...”

The panoply of colored gems from her paint box is held in place by a gentle treatment of high carat gold, almost primitive in simplicity and infinitely feminine. Softly crimped bezels brace the stones and tiny links join bezel to bezel. Sometimes she uses heavy gold wire to create a dance of line and color. Either way, one is challenged to discern whether the works are ancient or fantastically modern in their reduction.

A recent movement in studio jewelry is the use of raw gems and Petra Class was among the early innovators. The textures of the raw material reveal its natural beauty in unexpected ways. By combining it with faceted gems, she creates a subtle contrast of texture that enhances the unique beauty of each stone and lends her work an unusual richness.

A little appreciated fact about jewelry artists is that they are engineers of the minute. They construct as much as they design and delight in the little proficiencies and mechanisms that their craft inspires. Some take this technical skill to extraordinary lengths but Class, having done that, employs a light touch that honors the materials by not over-working them.

Her most technically demanding works may be the hollow form gold shapes from which colored gems sprout. They have an almost child-like playfulness, suggested by their high color and spontaneous feel, but beneath the surface of these pieces is a careful attention to the tensions of color and materials. Her pieces only appear to be effortless. Maybe this is why they are so infinitely wearable.

Born and trained in Germany, Petra Class is from a family of engineers. She studied art history and philosophy in college and went on to study metalsmithing. Afterwards, she worked for many years creating technically demanding hollow ware. She brings some forty new works, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings to this, her second, Patina Gallery exhibition

Opening Reception Friday, October 2
5:00 - 7:30
Petra Class will attend
Online exhibition Sept. 30
at patina-gallery.com