Handcrafted beauty
WORDS Hannah Harte
Forget-me-nots, begonia leaves, lily of the valley, ladybirds, cherry blossom, bluebells, butterfly wings, cornflowers, thistles, dandelions, and many more of Aotearoa’s flora and fauna feature in the stunningly handcrafted, meticulous designs of Adele Stewart.
Working with natural gemstones, glass enamel, and metals, such as red, yellow, or rose gold and sterling silver, her finely detailed works of wearable art are both delicate and enduring. Every one of them is unique; “Each piece ends up a bit of a surprise, just as nature intends.”
Working from a petite studio in her solar-powered tiny home nestled in the West Coast bush, Adele is surrounded by the resplendent beauty of nature, inflorescences, moss, and towering ancient trees – and loves to focus on the minutiae of the wilderness around her. She has always adored flowers and was able to name multiple varieties from the age of three, taking her mother’s friends on tours of the family garden. Once she left school, she was immediately accepted as an apprentice at Landau Jewellery and has spent the following two decades perfecting her craft. She is a highly trained and experienced gemstone setter – a rare skill set – with an incredible knowledge of the properties of a vast array of gemstones and precious metals. A setter’s speciality is the task of attaching gemstones to jewellery, a complex and challenging process that needs to deliver a secure and accurate fit while enhancing the beauty of the stone within its overall design.
Ōtautahi Christchurch and Banks Peninsula residents can enjoy seeing her work in person at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre or the delightful Little River Gallery. Adele is also a maker with the local creative collective Felt and shares her work online and on social media.