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©Alan Ardiff
©Alan Ardiff
©Alan Ardiff
©Alan Ardiff
©David Cantwell

Alan Ardiff

  • Jewellery maker
  • Dublin, Ireland
  • Master Artisan
Alan Ardiff Jewellery maker
©Alan Ardiff

Engineered jewellery

  • • Alan makes wearable art
  • • His pieces come alive when worn
  • • He balances whimsy and function in his concepts

Alan Ardiff creates imaginative and heart-warming jewellery from a combination of gold, silver and precious stones. From his early days playing with Lego, to training as an engineer and then finding his talent in metal, he has always had an interest in construction, shape and colour. Alan often incorporates kinetic elements in his pieces which shift into gear with the movement of the body. He describes this as "exploiting our basic human programming, our hunter instinct which is alert to movement." When a piece goes from still to suddenly moving it catches the eye and draws our attention. Using his personal language of symbols, shapes and characters, Alan creates a world that bridges order and chaos, stillness and movement, jewellery and engineering.

Read the full interview

Works

  • ©David Cantwell
  • ©David Cantwell
  • ©David Cantwell
  • ©David Cantwell
Photo: ©David Cantwell
Dream Machine pendant

This is a fun kinetic pendant. The propeller spins with the movement of the wearer’s neck and the door can be opened to reveal a gold heart.

Photo: ©David Cantwell
Reach for the Stars pendant

This pendant uses the signature Alan Ardiff frame to contain and convey the story of reaching for that gold star that glitters in the night sky.

Photo: ©David Cantwell
Free Wheeling pendant

This is a circular kinetic pendant. As the wearer turns their head, the chain activates tiny cogs within the design and the gold wheels begin to spin.

Photo: ©David Cantwell
Light of the Moon pendant

This is a joyful kinetic pendant. The silver owl and cat rock gently on the waves in their golden boat as the stars and moon glint above them, The mechanism is activated by a hidden silver cog that is driven by the chain and movement of the wearer.

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