I enjoy making unique jewellery and objects that are affordable and precious. I enjoy repairing and restoring jewellery and other metal objects to preserve their meaning. I also remodel jewellery to forge a bright new life from devoted memories.

I studied silversmithing with Walraven van Heeckeren in the 1990’s. Wal’s teaching emphasised craftsmanship and individual creativity. Since starting I have been continuously developing my craft to broaden my ability and my work’s appeal.

I was briefly part of a collective in Sydney called Smith, Smith & Smith. We had a regular stall at Paddington Markets. I moved to the Northern Rivers In 2007 and joined another collective of passionate craftspeople. Hammer & Hand was founded by artist blacksmith, Bruce Pringle. Our common theme is metalwork and we all share enthusiasm for jewellery and sculpture.

Since joining the collective my practice has extended to include wrought steel home hardware. With blacksmithing I am able to leave the drive for perfection and grace behind and try to let each object speak its own story. No two hooks, handles or shelf brackets are identical and they all exhibit the scars of flame and hammer.

Jewellery is generally made in small spaces using an incredible variety of materials, tools and techniques that challenge the mind, skills and resources of the craftsman. You’ll see what I mean when you visit me and see my work at Hammer & Hand workshop gallery in Bangalow or by appointment at my home studio.

Contact:
julian.de.saxe@gmail.com
0409 493 729
@de.saxe.metalsmith

Good times with Rich Martin at Hammer and Hand Workshop

Rich Martin has been visiting us in Byron Bay… picking up Sand-Casting skills. 

Also pictured are Matt Hooper, Artist and Hammer Byron Bay members , Julian DeSaxe, Priscilla Daffen, Thomas Franke (and Arlen!). Jen Banks and Bruce Pringle…. Friday evening watching Rich casting a bronze Skate (sting-ray).

Rich Martin (Hammer and Hand Hobart) with Bruce Pringle and Julian DeSaxe (Hammer and Hand byron bay workshop)

Bruce Pringle and Rich Martin in Briuce’s workshop.. Sandcasting

Rich Martin, Sculptor.

I have a few new tools in my workshop to enable me to do some blacksmithing. My buddy Clay kindly cut a stump for me to mount the anvil on. He even cut 3 feet into the base so that it won’t wobble around on the uneven floor.

My Anvil on it’s new log stand

I made a Welding Bench for my workshop with the MIG welder that my Father gave me.

The Gas Forge that Bruce helped me put together.

I made the this Cant Hook for Clay using the forge, anvil & workbench.

Here are some pics of some commissions I have completed recently and a cocktail ring I finished yesterday.

A Smokey Quartz pendant commissioned for a wedding gift.

A hand forged silver cuff with stars & moons engraved around it commissioned for a gift.

An Opal dress ring commissioned for the Opal’s owner.

An Orange & Lemon Sapphire cocktail ring.

A customer came into the shop with a guitar pick and a machine head tied to a piece of leather around his neck. He took them off and told me a story about them.

“See this machine head? It used to be on my favourite guitar .. I had just driven to a mate’s place and took my guitar out of the boot. My mobile rang and after I had finished taking the call I noticed that I had parked my car very close to the car in front so I decided to move my car back a little. I was reversing when I heard a crunch and feeling devastated I ran to the back of the car to see what I had damaged. I had left my guitar case on the ground behind the car but the only damage I did was to pop off this machine head. ‘That was lucky!’, I thought & tied the machine head to this piece of leather and hung it around my neck.

“I’m a big Stephen Stills fan and I was at his concert a few years ago .. down the front. He flicked his guitar pick out into the audience. I put up my open hand and closed it around the pick. ‘That was lucky’, I thought & tied it to the piece of leather with the machine head.  I’m a bit bored of this leather, can you put them on a chain and maybe make them into a pendant.”

“Sure”, I said. This is what we came up with.

Lucky pendant. Guitar pick and machine head.

Here are a couple of rings I made last year …

Sterling silver engagement ring featuring Australian parti-coloured sapphire by Julian de Saxe

Gentleman’s wedding band in white gold with patina

Here’s some cufflinks custom made for a couple that wanted a special gift…

Bespoke cufflinks made by Julian de Saxe

A customer brought in a beautiful opal triplet that her father had given her and asked if I could set in a pendant. I offered up a few designs and she liked on this one..

Opal pendant by Julian de Saxe

I made some new sterling silver earrings today using the Cuttle Bone Casting technique. There’s lots of cuttle bone on the beaches around Byron Bay and it’s fun to collect. It’s very soft so you can use just about anything to carve designs into it. It’s very resistant to heat so it’s perfect for using as a mold to cast jewellery. Cuttle bone has a beautiful wavy texture that is transferred to the finished item. Here are some pictures of the process…

and here’s the finished earrings…

Sterling Silver Earrings by Julian de Saxe