Max’s restoration work on 17th and 18th antique jewels, characterised by their high level of craftsmanship and evolved designs, inspired this brooch. It was created by melting together thin wires to achieve an unfinished and fragile aspect. As a part of the work, every time a piece breaks off, the owner brings it back to reattach the wire in another place. This way the jewel keeps changing throughout the years.
Height 11.5 cm
Width 6.8 cm
Depth 2.6 cm
© Stanislas Huaux
© Stanislas Huaux
© Stanislas Huaux
© Stanislas Huaux
Max Gielis
- Silversmith
- Antwerp, Belgium
- Master Artisan
- Recommended by Sofie Lachaert & Luc Dhanis
Contact
Dutch, English, French
Address:
Den Brem 36, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium
Den Brem 36, B2610 Antwerp, Belgium
Hours:
By appointment only
By appointment only
Phone:
+32 494209937
+32 494209937
© Stanislas Huaux
In the name of silver
- • Max develops his own designs as well as the ideas of other designers
- • His works have been exhibited in museums across Europe
- • He says that one third of his job is to be a problem solver
Max Gielis trained as a silversmith and jeweller at St. Lucas School of Arts in Antwerp. For over ten years he developed a strong traditional background working in the studio of one of his professors, who was also one of the best restorers of silver and jewellery in Belgium. At the same time, Max opened his own workshop where he focused on creating his own contemporary jewellery and silverware, cultivating a personal and unique style. Silver is his preferred metal, but he likes the challenge of working with many different materials, like wood and glass, collaborating with specialised artisans. “I also like to use aluminium, steel, pewter,” he says.
Read the full interviewWorks
Photo: © Stanislas Huaux
Are We Going to Die Pretty
Photo: © Stanislas Huaux
Nouvelle Vague
Elegant cigar box handcrafted in silver.
Height 15.6 cm
Width 8.5 cm
Depth 2 cm
Photo: © Stanislas Huaux
Ongoing Matter II
Max’s restoration work on 17th and 18th antique jewels, characterised by their high level of craftsmanship and evolved designs, inspired this brooch. It was handcrafted in silver and stainless steel and adorned with a black flint stone.
Height 7.7 cm
Width 11.7 cm
Depth 2.6 cm
Photo: © Sylvain Georget & Federico Pazienza
Self-portrait
The Self-Portrait brooches were designed and commissioned by Gijs Bakker, who asked for a portrait of himself in the size of his little finger’s nail. The brooches were handcrafted in gold with the traditional bas-relief chasing method. As the dimension of the portrait constituted a challenge, Max used a magnifying glass, and because some elements were smaller than the metal thickness, some features had to be very carefully ‘shaved’ away out of the material..
Height 6 cm
Width 6 cm
Depth 0.9 cm
Photo: © Stanislas Huaux
Travel Degustation Threesome
This travel set was made for the exhibition Spoons at gallery Ra in Amsterdam. It consists of three small silver spoons, especially made for tasting gradually hotter spices. Its purpose is to show the preciousness of the spice tasting process. The shape of the spoons is matched by the number of Scoville units –the hotter the spice, the smaller the scoop. The covers were handcrafted in ebony and stainless steel and the set is placed in a hammered and silver-plated box.
Height 24 cm
Width 15 cm
Depth 3 cm
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