Ute Decker Silk Wings

Ute Decker’s Silk Wings (2021) gilding metal cuff was created by the jeweller exclusively for Carpenters Workshop Gallery. Handmade in the technique of anti-clastic metal-forming, the artist titled the project Silk Wings as an ode towards this complex and labour-intensive method of goldsmithing. The artist uses the technique of anti-clastic metal-forming requires the artist to carefully consider each movement of her hand as she forms the sheet of gilding metal with a heavy stake, condensing the centre-point of the precious material while stretching the outer areas into perfectly formed lines. Whilst the anti-clastic metal-forming technique has been traditionally used to create flat surfaces, Decker utilizes the tension created by the heavy stake to form wave-like ripples across the material, making the hard precious metal appear to be as malleable as draping silk.

The jeweller chose to work in gilding metal, a member of the brass family of alloys, for the material’s distinctive patination which develops over time and enriches the surface of the cuff with a unique natural texture. Continuing the artist’s thoughtful selection of materials, the gilding metal jewel is created from an alloy copper and zinc. The Silk Wings gilding metal cuff is a powerful exploration of the goldsmithing medium’s capacity for artistic and poetic expression, its technical and sculptural qualities placing the jewellery creation at the helm of Ute Decker’s internationally collected body of work.