Hemmerle: The Quintessence of Jewelry as Total Work of Art Creation

A new ideal of beauty was established during the Amarna Period (1353-1336 BCE) in ancient Egypt. Under the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaton and his wife Nefertiti traditional polytheistic religion was transformed to a new monotheism, with the sun god Aten declared the official state deity of Egypt. This period also presents a radical shift in Egyptian artwork, prior works were rigid and formal, depicting the subject with little individuality while Amarna Art takes on an element of naturalism, uniting Egypt’s highly stylized origins with a more fluid and essential portrayal of character.

Symbols of the Hemmerle’s approach to creation may be found in Munich where in 1893 the fourth generation family run jeweller was established. In honor of Hemmerle’s 125th anniversary I had the divine pleasure of traveling to the source, where each one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewel is conceived with an attention to detail and quality that is quite honestly staggering. The world that exists in Bavarian Germany between the home of Christian Hemmerle, who runs the business alongside his wife Yasmin and parents, workshop and boutique represents a total work of art living which puts stars in my eyes.

The process of making is imbued with layers of cultural references, original historicity provoked by contemporary art represented across home and atelier. Interpreting Hemmerle pieces in the context of the art/objects that present themselves in scenes from the families everyday life you may catch a glimmer of the fifth element. Experimenting with and procuring materials to create a special interrelationship is a Hemmerle signature. The process of discovering a treasured artifact or sourcing the perfect nutwood to pair with a specific shade of moonstone is where it begins. Getting to know a material, setting it aside and waiting allows a unique alchemy to take place, history is retained while the jewels breathe a new life. Thus, Hemmerle has created an unprecedented typology for the modern heirloom, allowing the wearer to access remnants of the past while becoming an active participant in the quintessence of an original contemporary interpretation.