Meet the Maker - Maria Manola

This weeks talented maker is Maria Manola, a Chilean Designer based in London. Her work centres around her constant search of an organic and minimalist aesthetic in jewellery. Each piece tries to reflect the beauty of imperfection from the inspiring landscapes of the South of Chile and the geological forms of the Andes. Every handmade facet upon these polished gold rocks enlightens and adds a little bit of nature to your everyday.

When did you start creating jewellery?

I started creating jewellery since I was a kid. I love crafts and was always been drowned to the colours and textures in little beads. Then, in 2016 after studying Design I took jewellery classes as a hobby when I was working in my full-time job and I didn’t know if I would like it or not. In the end, I loved it.
I studied for a year and the experience of making wearable, timeless tiny pieces with my hands that could mean so much to someone else felt like magic.

Who inspires you the most? 

The people that inspire me the most are my jewellery pairs. I feel that jewellery is in such a good moment right now and you can see really creative designs. I love how people make a twist in traditional techniques and create something one of a kind.

What was the inspiration for the jewellery in the exhibition?

I’ve been always inspired by pebbles, gemstones, and crystal clusters, mostly because of my childhood memories.

Chile is a really long country with different kinds of landscapes: from desertic areas to forests and the Patagonia, the Andes crossing the entire territory and geological forms everywhere. You can feel the power of nature in stones and rocks created by the pressure of the earth, shaped by the strength of wind and water, and coloured by local minerals. It is truly amazing to think that gemstones, with their beautiful designs and infinite colours, come from nature.

For this exhibition I curated some pieces in different shades of pink to get closer to spring’s energy. One of my favourite seasons in London.

If you weren’t a jeweller what would choose as a career?

I think I would be an archaeologist. I put a lot of attention to detail, I’m really good finding things and love learning about the history of objects.

Please can you tell us a bit about your creative process?

Personally, I don’t sketch so much. Most of the time I have a design in my mind and improvise with the material. I love playing around with the wax and gemstones and trying to find balance when sculpting. You can make a model and visualize the general piece from all its angles quite quickly and also that the wax is forgiving. If you make a mistake, you can correct it just by adding more material.

What are you listening to? (podcasts recommendations/ studio playlists/ the sounds that motivate you?)

Right now, I’m trying to get some summer energy, so I’m listening to a lot of Latin music, specifically a playlist named "Tropical Vibe" on Spotify. It features Brazilian, Colombian, Mexican, and Peruvian sounds that will motivate you to work :) Reyna Tropical is a great and chill band that I love.

What’s next for your brand?

What I would like to do next is present my new collections to more galleries in the UK and have the courage to give my jewellery more exposure. This includes showcasing my work in different locations and applying to markets and fairs.

Which is your favourite piece?

My favourite piece is the OOAK Pink Sapphire ring. It’s quite a statement piece with a lot of weight and presence, reminiscent of the Andes. The yellow gold and white diamonds contrast beautifully with the pink sapphire.

Finally, for fun, what would be your dream piece to make or person to make for?

I would love to make a Gea statement necklace in buttery yellow gold. Rocky shapes with infinite facets sparkling and going all around the neck. There’s no harm in dreaming!