Coral Wreath: Erin Considine’s Nautical Charm

Photographer John Francis Peters
July 18, 2011

Erin Considine’s debut jewelry collection, Immrama, looks as if it’s been pulled from the sea. Talismanic metal hangs from naturally-dyed plaits of pima cotton and twisted silk, looking like jewelry sunk in the Titanic and marauded by local mer-folk. The collection is named for a series of old Irish tales that describe a sea-faring hero’s journey to the Otherworld. After recently quitting her steady job as a production assistant to design full time, Considine’s intention was also to break free for the sheer adventure of it.

Anchoring the collection in recycled brass ornamentation inspired by the Art Deco architecture of her home-base, New York City, Considine carved molds which were then cast by a local metalsmith. The fiber cords, she explains, aside from having a nautical vibe, add texture to the pieces and provide the added bonus of keeping the metal hardware away from her sensitive skin. And while she attributes the primitive look of the pieces to her “crude” hand, the oxidized appearance serves only to heighten their buried treasure appeal.

Coral Wreath: Erin Considine’s Nautical Charm