Caius Bearder Design Portfolio GSA Silversmithing and Jewellery 2020/2021
Inspiration and Development These designs stem from a love for the coasts of the island of Guernsey, specifically the forms and shapes found in rockpools and cliff faces. The island’s rich and expansive history has left its coasts with a patchwork of architectural structures, from Napoleonic forts to Brutalist German concrete bunkers. In contrast to such harsh geometries, these works are motivated by a multitude of natural coastal forms, especially those found in geographical and environmental features characteristic of Guernsey’s island landscape.
The designs combine natural textures and shapes of organic sea life with the encroaching geometry of manmade seaside architecture. Using a range of metals and finishes to encourage viewer interaction with these objects, preciousness and weight of metals help communicate both the grounded physicality of the coastal constructions and the fragility of the smaller organic elements. The finished works utilise a range of traditional silversmithing techniques, such as chasing and press forming, to signify and reinforce this contrast, which results in contemporary pieces, that are as tactile as the natural forms they sometimes represent or replicate. 2
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Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, my project began with a range of model making techniques, pushing the edges of my design concept into the realm of sculpture. These models were produced in a range of mixed materials, including seaweed, steel mesh, copper shim, and aluminium. Once these models were becoming more refined, I would continue to develop them into more finalised designs using CAD software such as Rhino 6.
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The development of organic textures through sampling on copper was a key element of my work, and prepared me for creating more refined metal pieces utilising the traditional silversmithing techniques of chasing and repousse. The contrast between oxidised surface and raw metal was also one I would continue to develop through more refined making and CAD modelling. 6
Displacement mapping became a vital element in creating my digital renders of my designs. As the textures which I was producing were very organic, I used Photoshop to emulate the quality of drawn line which I would later physically produce through chasing. This resulted in a versatile toolset for modelling and rendering my designs ahead of production.
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Mollusc Dishes
Mollusc Dish 1, copper sample 90x50x30mm Copper, silver wire Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation
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Assorted mollusc dishes, digital renders Assorted sizes Sterling Silver Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, gold plating
Mollusc Dish 1, digital render 90x50x30mm Sterling Silver Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, gold plating
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Mollusc Dish 2 85x60x15mm Sterling Silver Press forming, chasing, repousse 10
Mollusc Dish 3 95x45x30mm Sterling Silver Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering
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Mollusc Dish 4, digital render 90x60x30mm Sterling Silver Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, gold plating
Mollusc Dish 2, alternative digital render 90x50x30mm Sterling Silver Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, gold plating 12
Pink Granite Dishes, digital renders Assorted sizes Sterling Silver Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, gold plating
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Rockpool Ornaments
Rockpool Ornament 1, copper model 90x90x40mm Copper Spinning, score-and-fold, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation
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Rockpool Ornament 2 85x85x35mm Sterling silver, copper Mokume gane, chasing, oxidisation
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Rockpool Ornament 3, copper model 70x70x15mm Copper (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, chasing, repousse
Rockpool Ornaments, digital renders 70x70x15mm Sterling silver (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering 16
Rockpool Ornament 4, digital render 150x100x40mm Sterling silver (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, score-and-fold, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation
Rockpool Ornaments, digital renders Assorted sizes Sterling silver (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, score-andfold, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation Rockpool Ornament 4, digital render 150x100x40mm Sterling silver (0.7mm sheet, 1.2mm wire) Press forming, score-and-fold, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation 17
Coastal Cutlery 1, digital render/ drawing 200x30x10mm Sterling silver Casting, forging, oxidisation
Coastal Cutlery
Coastal Cutlery 2, digital renders 200x35x10mm Sterling silver (1mm sheet), Guernsey Pink Granite Press forming, chasing, repousse, riveting 18
Cutlery Variations Assorted Sizes Photoshop collage 19
Coastal Cutlery 3, digital render 150x25x10mm Sterling silver Press forming, score-and-fold, chasing, repousse, soldering, gold plating 20
Coastal Cutlery 3 and Mollusc Dish 2, digital visualisation Sterling silver Press forming, chasing, repousse, gold plating 21
Caddies and Boxes “Petit Port” Salt Box
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Top View
“Petit Port” Salt Box
Exploded View
This design range is inspired by my home island of Guernsey, and the natural forms which occur on it’s coastlines. Salt is a key part of Guernsey’s identity as an island, so I wanted to design a vessel which would emphasise the precious nature of such a seemingly simple seasoning. Side View Dimensions 60x100x100mm Outer Bowl/ Lid thickness- 0.5mm Inner Bowl thickness- 0.7mm
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“Grandes Rocques” Tea Caddy
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Top View
“Grandes Rocques” Tea Caddy
Exploded View
This design range is inspired by my home island of Guernsey, and the natural forms which occur on it’s coastlines. Side View
Tea has been an important part of my family, holding a place in many memories of childhood and days spent in beachside cafes. Dimensions 120x80x80mm Outer Bowl/ Lid thickness- 0.5mm Inner Bowl thickness- 0.7mm
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“Petit Bot” Seasoning Box
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“Petit Bot” Seasoning Box Top View
Side View
This design range is inspired by my home island of Guernsey, and the natural forms which occur on it’s coastlines.
Exploded View
Home cooking has always been present in my home, with some of my earliest memories being of my parents cooking and of us eating as a family. This box would be used to hold the spices and seasoning for beanjar, Guernsey’s traditional culinary dish. Dimensions 60x80x80mm Outer Bowl/ Lid thickness0.5mm Inner Bowl thickness- 0.7mm
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Ocean Form Container 1, digital render 150x160x100mm Sterling silver (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation
Ocean Form Container 3, Dual Containers, digital render 150x75x100mm, 150x75x80mm Sterling silver (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, gold plating
Ocean Form Container 2, digital render 150x150x110mm Sterling silver Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation 28
Printed Grid Box, 3D printed prototype 60x60x40mm PLA plastic 3D printing, spray paint
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Tumblers and Vessels
Seaside Tumbler 1, copper model 75x75x60mm Copper (0.7mm sheet) Raising, chasing, repousse 30
Seaside Tumbler 2 & 3, digital renders 85x85x100mm Sterling silver Score-and-fold, press forming, raising, chasing, repousse, soldering, gold plating
Seaside Tumbler 4, digital render 85x85x90mm Sterling silver Score-and-fold, press forming, raising, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation
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Corroding tumbler, digital render 85x85x100mm Cast silver 3D printing, casting, oxidisation
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Cast Shot Glass 45x45x60mm Cast bronze 3D printing, casting, oxidisation
Shot glasses, digital renders 45x45x60mm (varies) Cast Silver 3D printing, casting, oxidisation
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Seaweed Vase 1, copper model 70x70x120mm Copper (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation
Seaweed Vase 2, digital renders 70x70x140mm Silver (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, score-and-fold, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation, gold plating
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Seaweed Vase 3, digital render variations 100x100x120mm Copper (0.7mm sheet) Spinning, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation, keumboo, gold plating
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Seaweed Vase 4, digital render 70x70x120mm Silver (0.7mm sheet) Raising, score-and-fold, chasing, repousse, soldering, gold plating
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Seaweed Vase 5, digital renders 70x70x140mm Silver (0.7mm sheet) Piercing, score-and-fold, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation 37
Brooches Contrast Brooch 1 95x60x10mm Silver (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation
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Contrast Brooch 2 95x60x10mm Silver (0.7mm sheet), matte finish Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering
Contrast Brooch 3, digital render 90x60x15mm Silver (0.7mm sheet), matte finish Press forming, score-and-fold, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation 39
Contrast Brooch 4, digital render 80x80x10mm Silver (0.7mm sheet), matte finish Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering
Contrast Brooch 5 90x65x10mm Silver (0.7mm sheet), polished finish Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering
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Contrast Brooch 6, digital render 95x60x10mm Silver (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering Seashell Brooch 45x30x4mm Silver (0.5mm sheet), amethyst Stone setting, chasing, repousse, soldering 41
Contrast Brooch 6, digital render 85x65x10mm Silver (0.7mm sheet, 1mm diameter wire) Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation
Contrast Brooch 8, digital render 50x30x5mm Silver (0.7mm sheet) Chasing, repousse, soldering, keumboo
Contrast Brooch 7, digital render 85x65x10mm Silver (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering, oxidisation, keumboo
Contrast Brooch 9, digital render 65x65x30mm Silver (0.7mm sheet) Press forming, phasing, repousse, soldering
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Keumboo Tests (multiple scales applicable), digital renders Assorted sizes Silver (0.7mm sheet) Chasing, repousse, keumboo, oxidisation
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Bowls and Plates
Serving Bowl, digital render 450x200x150mm Silver (0.7mm sheet) Raising, press forming, chasing, repousse, soldering
Platter, digital render 600x250x30mm Silver (0.7mm sheet) Raising, press forming, chasing, repousse
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Rockpool bowls Assorted Sizes Silver (0.7mm sheet) Raising, chasing, repousse, oxidisation
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Gosset Champagne Stopper GCDC Competition
Exploded View
Side View
Top View
“Vineyard Memories”- Gosset Champagne Stopper Inspired by the traditional forms and patterns of a vineyard, this design both functions as an effective stopper and as a reminder of the origins of the champagne. By opening the stopper, you interact with the story of the bottle, grasping the traditional fencing, unwrapping the vines from the glass surface and unlocking the final refined stage in the story of the grapes. This piece encapsulates the refinement and class associated with Gosset, providing a personal connection between the user and the rich history of champagne making and grape growth. The main structure of the piece lends itself to being 3D printed in high resolution wax, then cast into silver. The vines and leaves would then be soldered on afterward, before all of the pieces are electroplated (with 18ct gold and ruthenium) and assembled with the gold-plated rivets.