Jewelry Makers
Maine is home to an abundance of creative people, so it comes as no surprise that our personal tastes vary as much as our personalities. Local jewelry makers craft designs for every aesthetic, from ornate gold rings to brass utilitarian cuffs, all featuring a dose of Maine inspiration.
01 Cat Bates | Portland
Bates’s designs communicate durability and utility. Often referencing aspects of Maine life, his work includes hand-braided cords and a variety of metals, such as brass, silver, and bronze. One recent cuff was sculpted to resemble seagull bones, while a pendant echoes a fox’s skull.
02 Holly Hamilton | Portland
Primarily a goldsmith, Hamilton uses 18- and 22-karat gold to craft limited production and one-of-a-kind ornaments, often inset with multi-colored stones, including turquoise, pink tourmaline, and opal. Hamilton’s Old Port gallery serves as both storefront and workspace.
03 Maggie Bokor | Topsham
A ceramics graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Bokor applies her experience in clay molding to the process of making jewelry. All molded from metal clay, sand dollars, dewdrops, bees, and birds feature prominently in her designs.
04 Willa Wirth | Portland
Well known in the Maine design milieu, Wirth forges silver pieces that are inspired by nature and creative energy. Her necklaces, rings, and earrings are frequently shaped into circles and spirals, and Wirth also creates custom jewelry in collaboration with clients.
05 Circle Stone Designs | Woolwich
Metalsmith Anita Roelz, the designer behind Circle Stone Designs, forges jewelry and accessories that are intended for everyday wear and are inspired by nature. “The patterns I create with hand and hammer complement the elemental designs,” says Roelz.
06 Folia | Portland
This 25-year-old gallery represents the work of Edith Armstrong, the owner, along with that of Devta Doolan, Carly Cooke, Jennifer Nielsen, Cindy Edwards, and Chris Ploof. The design studio also crafts custom jewelry and transforms family heirlooms.
07 Lisa Gent | Cape Elizabeth
The majority of Gent’s jewelry is crafted from sterling silver and 14-karat yellow gold, sometimes accompanied by gems or freshwater pearls. Previously an environmental educator, Gent models much of her line on natural elements.
08 Fishbone Metal Works | South Portland
Nate Hicks, the designer behind Fishbone, crafts wrist cuffs, called the Original Keepah, from official gauges that lobstermen and women use to determine whether or not the lobster is of legal size. Hicks also creates custom metal jewelry and home accessories.
09 Heather Perry | Brunswick
Although her inspirations are multifarious, Perry credits Georgian and Victorian motifs as the sources behind the majority of her designs. Perry focuses on heirloom redesign, and her original collections emphasize a simple color palette.
10 Christine Peters | Damariscotta
Due in part to her background in fine arts at Boston University, Peters’s handcrafted designs retain a sculptural quality, particularly noticeable in her use of texture. Production methods in her arsenal include oxidation, a process that causes gold and silver to appear darkened and matte.