Ghosts from the Past & Lost Wax
Le Corbeau Noir Jewellery by Gigi R
Le Corbeau Noir, the black Japanese crow, symbolizes Gina’s jewellery—an eclectic fusion of passions and experiences. Costume design, modern fashion, and a love for Punk, Art Nouveau, and Medieval aesthetics shape her work. Her inner crow delights in uncovering forgotten treasures, while nature’s artistry, from delicate flowers to intricate leaves, continually inspires her.
The philosophy of Wabi Sabi—finding beauty in imperfection—deeply influences Gina’s process. Like a cracked bowl repaired with gold, her designs celebrate the aged, the worn, and the storied. These are ghosts from the past, infused with new life. Each statement piece tells a story—sometimes preordained, sometimes shaped by the organic evolution of sculpting in wax.
Upon completion, the narrative passes to the wearer. Take, for instance, a single Baroque pearl earring capped in silver, dangling from a sculpted dove. The pearl, once a fierce pirate’s prized possession, gleams against silver netting, while the dove symbolizes her hard-won prestige. Its asymmetry—intentionally unpaired—adds intrigue, defying the ordinary.
Gina’s jewellery is not literal; it suggests, evokes, and invites interpretation. Like clay, wax captures her fingerprints in the casting process, preserving a handmade imprint of thought, love, and care. What she creates today will one day become ghosts from the past—pieces with history, waiting to tell their next story.
Gina has been making jewellery for 7 years, learning skills through the wonderful classes held at Workspace Wellington where she is a resident at the space.
She is inspired by many things, especially nature, animals and the history of costume and adornment.
Her work is informed by wabi-sabi, art nouveau, contemporary culture, loads of reading and she loves to watch people. Pieces are made usually through the Lost Wax process. This ancient process involves sculpting a shape in brown wax then casting it (usually) in silver. Cleaning and filing and polishing follows. Lost wax suits her love of organic shapes. She tends to make big statement jewellery for adventurous souls who love fashion.
