Jean Burgers

I'm a jeweller from Golden Bay, currently living in Wellington. I have a workshop at Nautilus Studios on the windy south coast. The studio is a converted mechanics building full of artists and musicians doing their thing. The materials I use are often recycled, old wooden bowling balls are my favourite as they are made from a beautiful hard wood called lignum vitae. I pull apart old pianos and use the ebony and ivory keys to make pendants and brooches. I also use rimu, jara, oak, rosewood, buffalo horn, paua, mother of pearl, copper and brass and anything else I find lying around. I combine these materials with sterling silver to emphasise their precious nature. My inspiration comes from the world around me, native trees and animals, montains and rivers, especially from growing up in Golden Bay and exploring the west coast of the South Island. Recently I have done a series of crop circle pendants, trying to capture the beautiful designs that are imprinted on fields of grain. I often use the koru pattern in my work, symbolising life, growth and renewal.

The range that you see on this website is only a selection of my work, if you are interested in seeing more please feel free to contact me or check out my work in one of the following galleries.

My work is displayed at:

-The Vault London, Auckland & Christchurch

-Auckland Museum Gallery

-Textures Gallery Auckland

-Jewellery Arts Studio Wellington

-Tamarillo Gallery Wellington

-Pohutukawa Dreaming Gallery Kelburn

-Cogitate Gallery Petone

-Lush Design Gallery Raumati

-The Artisans Takaka

-M.O.N.Z.A. Takaka

-Palm Street Gallery Westport

-Punakaiki Craft

-The Crafty Banker Port Chalmers

-Koru NZ Art and Jade Dunedin

-Kapa Queenstown

-Something Special Riverton

-City Gallery Invercargill

-Southland Museum and Art Galllery

I enjoy doing commissions, you are welcome to contact me and visit my workshop.