Ralph Bakker
Jeweller
Published: 13.06.2014
- Mail:
- ralph
luna.nl
- Phone:
- + 31 0 650 814 912
Ralph BakkerBracelet: Untitled, 2005
Gold, silver & enamel
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Necklace: Untitled, 2005
Gold, silver, enamel
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph Bakker
Ralph BakkerNecklace: Untitled, 2005
Gold, silver & enamel
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph BakkerRing: Untitled, 2005
Gold, tantalium & Haematiet (bloodstone)
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph BakkerNecklace: Untitled, 2005
Gold, silver, enamel & ni?llo
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph BakkerNecklace: Untitled, 2005
Gold, silver & enamel
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph BakkerNecklace: Untitled, 2005
Gold, silver, enamel & ni?llo
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph BakkerNecklace: Untitled, 2004
Gold, silver, rose-quartz & ni?llo
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph BakkerBracelet: Untitled, 2004
Gold, silver & ni?llo
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph Bakker
Ralph Bakker
Ralph BakkerNecklace: Untitled, 2004
Gold, silver, enamel & rose-quartz
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph BakkerNecklace: Untitled, 2004
Gold, silver & enamel
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph BakkerEarrings: Untitled, 2004
Gold, silver & ni?llo
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph BakkerNecklace: Untitled, 2002
Gold, silver & enamel
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ralph BakkerNecklace: Untitled, 2002
Gold, silver, ni?llo & pearls
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Statement
Mentality
Working as an jewelry-artist is a matter of attitude, a conscious choice for a certain way of working; a mentality.
It is of no importance to me whether the piece of jewelry I made exceeds boundaries. My aim is to make a good piece of jewelry and whether it is defined as art is up to others.
In making my jewelry I am in search of answers to questions I cannot or will not ask myself, hoping that my jewelry can show me both the questions and the answers.
Of great importance are archetypical forms of jewelry; I can be fascinated by a plain linkchain. Mere circles creating a picture and function that cannot be improved, form and function intertwined.
Intellectual themes, which are often used by my colleagues, are not in my line and are a dead-end to me. However, the fact that others work in this way I find important and inspiring.
I work with the idea that without the great past no present is possible.
During my attendance at the Rietveld Academy (Amsterdam) I decided that I want to cherish and keep up the tradition of the age-old craft. Reading the biography of Benvenuto Cellini, a sculptor/ goldsmith from the Renaissance was an important stimulus for me in this.
My work are clear pieces of jewellery and are certainly very wearable.
My inspirations are the material, the symbolism of a traditional shape or the beauty of a technique.
I have acquired an extensive knowledge of traditional materials and old techniques of the craft.
This knowledge enables me to let my pieces of jewellery arise from controlled experiments, pieces of jewellery that carry within them the significance of the goldsmith tradition. / Ralph Bakker, December 1999/2001
Seduction
Pure seduction
Ralph Bakker works gold, silver, precious gems, pearls and enamel into his pieces; the technical books in his possession are all about jewelry; he has, with heart and soul, dedicated himself to the skill and magic of the goldsmith. In the late 80‘s and early 90‘s that was an unusual attitude for a young jewelry designer, particularly in the Netherlands. At that time critics were more concerned about the conceptual aspects of the ornament.
Eventually everything rolled into place. For Ralph Bakker the jewel, with all it‘s traditions and connotations, became the concept of his work. That holds true for the rich colour combinations that he builds up with his materials, for the details in his complex jewelry, for the royal place he reserves for certain stones and foremost for the suggestive effect of the true jewel; in short, the pure seduction.
The underlying theme in all the work that he has exhibited in Galerie Lousie Smit is - the erotic. Sometimes hidden, sometimes explicit. Seduction is in one‘s mind, not only the body. His work is made for women, without consciously excluding men. For him the greatest satisfaction comes from enticing a woman to posses and to wear his jewelry.
I am one of those women. In 1991 I saw a necklace with boat-shaped links of blackened silver, the insides warmly dressed with gold leaf and each boat was set with a white shell. After sleeping on it for one night I knew I had to have that necklace. As an experienced art historian I knew the erotic symbolism of the almond-shape as well as that of the shells with their tempting undersides. But as with all seduction, and perhaps most importantly, I could connect it to a story of my own.
The sensuality in the beautiful collars is ambiguous as well. They are strong in form even though they are made for that transitional place on the body, the sensitive area between neck and breast. From this position the effect of their subtle brilliance in relationship to the face is optimal. Stemming from an ancient tradition the chain mail links make these jewels into objects that willingly form themselves to the body.
Brilliance is reciprocal, suppleness asks to be touched and traditions offer a starting point for one‘s own memories and fantasy. The adage, ‘‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder‘‘, holds more than true for Ralph Bakker‘s enticing jewelry. / Marjan Unger.
Translation Maria Russo
Pure seduction
Ralph Bakker works gold, silver, precious gems, pearls and enamel into his pieces; the technical books in his possession are all about jewelry; he has, with heart and soul, dedicated himself to the skill and magic of the goldsmith. In the late 80‘s and early 90‘s that was an unusual attitude for a young jewelry designer, particularly in the Netherlands. At that time critics were more concerned about the conceptual aspects of the ornament.
Eventually everything rolled into place. For Ralph Bakker the jewel, with all it‘s traditions and connotations, became the concept of his work. That holds true for the rich colour combinations that he builds up with his materials, for the details in his complex jewelry, for the royal place he reserves for certain stones and foremost for the suggestive effect of the true jewel; in short, the pure seduction.
The underlying theme in all the work that he has exhibited in Galerie Lousie Smit is - the erotic. Sometimes hidden, sometimes explicit. Seduction is in one‘s mind, not only the body. His work is made for women, without consciously excluding men. For him the greatest satisfaction comes from enticing a woman to posses and to wear his jewelry.
I am one of those women. In 1991 I saw a necklace with boat-shaped links of blackened silver, the insides warmly dressed with gold leaf and each boat was set with a white shell. After sleeping on it for one night I knew I had to have that necklace. As an experienced art historian I knew the erotic symbolism of the almond-shape as well as that of the shells with their tempting undersides. But as with all seduction, and perhaps most importantly, I could connect it to a story of my own.
The sensuality in the beautiful collars is ambiguous as well. They are strong in form even though they are made for that transitional place on the body, the sensitive area between neck and breast. From this position the effect of their subtle brilliance in relationship to the face is optimal. Stemming from an ancient tradition the chain mail links make these jewels into objects that willingly form themselves to the body.
Brilliance is reciprocal, suppleness asks to be touched and traditions offer a starting point for one‘s own memories and fantasy. The adage, ‘‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder‘‘, holds more than true for Ralph Bakker‘s enticing jewelry. / Marjan Unger.
Translation Maria Russo
CV 
Publications
On sale at
- Mail:
- ralphluna.nl
- Phone:
- + 31 0 650 814 912
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