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Meet the Maker - Rachael Plassard
Posted on 21 Oct 06:30
For this edition of Meet the maker we interview recent graduate Rachael Plassard about her Masters Degree jewellery collection 'When Memory Fades'. Rachael's work reinterprets traditional ornament, taking inspiration from decorative styles throughout history. Within this she weaves her own personal narratives and symbolism, allowing her discoveries and reflections to inform her decorative approach.
For this collection titled ‘When memory fades’ Rachael has explored a personal theme surrounding memory, looking at what happens when it works and what happens when it doesn’t. This collection of pieces illustrates the complexity of memory. Using decorative motif’s such as the acanthus and the frame, her work signifies the importance of protection, collection, absence, and rebirth.
When did you start creating jewellery?
I’ve been making jewellery since I was young, learning from my mum and grandma, who are both jewellers. Even though I originally studied music and planned to be a saxophonist, after finishing my degree, I was drawn back to jewellery and fell in love with it all over again.
With my mum as a mentor and some great courses at West Dean and Morley College, I began to develop my skills. I went on to work all sorts of jewellery jobs in Hatton Garden, which taught me so much about the industry.
The real turning point came after I had my daughter - it made me reflect on who I wanted to be as a maker. So, in 2022, I decided to go all in and start a Master’s in Jewellery at the University for the Creative Arts. That was an incredible experience - I learned so much and really grew as an artist.
Now, I’ve come full circle, working alongside my mum in our shared workshop—an Aladdin’s cave of tools and materials. It’s a magical space where I create bespoke, ornate jewellery, with each piece telling its own unique story
Who inspires you the most?
I have always been drawn to highly decorative and ornate designs, found in architecture and furniture. I became particularly interested in the rococo and baroque styles of decoration during my studies, and this has hugely influenced my work. I am especially drawn to acanthus leaves and intricate scroll designs found in frames and mirrors from this time.
When it comes to jewellers, I’m especially inspired by the work of Jacqueline Ryan and Kayo Saito. And, of course, my biggest inspirations are my grandma and my mum, growing up around them has had a huge impact on me. When you look at our work all together it’s all so different, but we are each inspired by the highly decorative which I find really interesting.
I also get a lot of inspiration from personal stories and narratives. For example, my recent MA collection was deeply inspired by themes of memory and how it shapes us, which helped to inform the patterns and decorative approach I used in my pieces.
What was the inspiration for the jewellery in the exhibition?
These pieces are an evolution of my MA collection. Although on the surface they are obviously inspired by decoration, and ornament, they hold a deeper, more personal narrative underneath. During my master’s studies, I did a lot of research around themes of memory, looking at what happened when it worked and what happened when it didn’t. The answers to these research questions helped to inform my decorative approach and added a deeper meaning to my work.
The acanthus forms, a recurring motif in my work that symbolise rebirth and immortality, are deliberately designed to fade in areas, and for example with my acanthus brooch – it represents the empty frame, and the absence it holds. Through this visual metaphor, I aim to evoke the concept of memories fading or disappearing over time. The frame also embodies ideas of collection and protection, something we do to preserve our elusive memories.
If you weren’t a jeweller what would choose as a career?
I can’t imagine not doing a job within the arts – I worked part time in a theatre whilst living in London and I absolutely loved it, so I would probably pursue something along those lines (although not on the stage!).
Please can you tell us a bit about your creative process?
I use a mix of sketchbooks and maquette-making to design my work, and I always start by testing each piece in brass first. I really enjoy the freedom of working quickly and imperfectly with a low-cost material; it’s quite therapeutic for me. I am quite an impatient maker, and so making a maquette lets me get to the finished piece faster and see how it looks on the body. This helps me iron out the details before moving on to the silver piece.
I work in a very iterative way, and while making these samples, I often come up with ideas for new pieces. I love drawing different shapes straight onto the metal, piercing them out and then twisting and forming them in different ways to see how they can come to life.
What are you listening to? (podcasts recommendations/ studio playlists/ the sounds that motivate you?)
This might sound a bit dull, but I usually have some boring TV playing in the background. It needs to be boring, or else I’d get too distracted! When I’m working on something complex, I often switch to having the radio on quietly or just work in silence—I need to be able to hear myself think!
What’s next for you?
I have a few exciting exhibitions coming up over the next year, and I can’t wait to explore some more pieces for these! I’m working hard to create a range of pieces extending from statement art pieces to more accessible wearable, collections. I’m also hoping to throw some stones into the mix soon, and I have my eye on some very special sparklers!
What’s next for your brand?
I've had the absolute pleasure of designing a number of bespoke engagement rings over the years. It’s something I truly love and cherish, being entrusted to create such a meaningful piece for a couple. I hope to bring out my own range of engagement rings in the next couple of years that really represent my style and aesthetic as an artist and designer.
Which is your favourite piece?
My favourite piece has to be my acanthus brooch. This was the last piece I made for my Masters, and it almost sprang out of nowhere. It was a culmination of all my research and thoughts throughout my two years. The brooch represents the idea of the frame—how we capture memories in frames and how an empty frame symbolises absence.
Finally, for fun, what would be your dream piece to make or person to make for?
I would love to move into make larger scale silverware at some point, I have so many ideas brimming, but I need to understand more of the technical first!
