Trollbeads Two Sides to Everything

Here Kim describes working with Trollbeads -

It is fascinating to work with Trollbeads, because the collection is really the essence of what jewellery is all about.  Jewellery becomes a type of talisman for us and gets a very personal significance for the people who wear it every day. We build a relationship with jewellery from the moment we get it, maybe as a gift from a lover, and expand day by day this relationship and the jewellery’s importance to us.

Trollbeads Double Heart silver charm bead

Trollbeads are the perfect supports for these relationships with their various small meanings and universes within themselves. Although we, as designers of Trollbeads, have an idea about them from the outset, we have a clear desire that those who wear them give them a new meaning – that is actually the point. That is what makes all Trollbeads unique.

Trollbeads Gold Heart charm bead

“Kim Buch is an excellent example of a modern craftsman who obviously knows his craft right down to his fingertips, who knows the traditions of his profession and the field’s importance in a cultural context, but is also an innovator in terms of materials, techniques and tools, and last but not least in his influence as a participant and commentator in the community, using the skills he has been blessed with.”  By Bettina Købbe (extract)

Which is your favourite Trollbeads charm bead designed by Kim?

Trollbeads – An Icon In Jewellery Design – has been made to accompany our sumptuous Coffee Table Book.

This fascinating video features Lise Aagaard, founder of Trollbeads, talking about her artistic influences, how Trollbeads charm beads are made, and the history and future of Trollbeads; a must watch for any Trollbeads fan!

Svend Nielsen opened his goldsmith store at Kultorvet in Copenhagen in 1945. During his long life he moved his workshop and store only once when he took over better facilities at Klareboderne, just 100 metres down the road! From there he ran a successful business for more than fifty years. He was one of the first goldsmiths in Denmark to learn the new American technique called centrifugal casting. This new technique revolutionised the goldsmith trade and was the foundation for the Trollbeads concept.

Svend Nielsen 1917-2007

Here Svend talks a little about those early days -

“I started in an apprenticeship with eight others from 1932 to 1937. Charms for bracelets was something totally new…they came from the newspapers to write about it! We made small buckets rakes and spades to hang from the bracelet – in gold.

Whatever we made had to be sold!!! They didn’t want us to be too artistic! But it was okay to create “something different”, “something new”. That was sort of okay.

I was placed next to the assistant who made chains and strings – we got along well – we used about 5/6 of all the gold used in the workshop. We made everything in metal sheet and wire. After a year the assistant stopped and it was my luck that I had acquired the necessary skills.

After finishing my apprenticeship I only stayed for a short while – and after serving in the navy I went to Rome with my friend Carl. In the fall I started with a Goldsmith. We worked a lot in white gold and platinum. But not in the summer – then Inga and I biked to Paris and Switzerland.

Then the Germans attacked Poland – redrafted for the security force – sent home – back to white gold and brilliants – then, the 9th of April I applied for a position with Person and Østerberg – old colleagues – it was an easy time for me, they didn’t pay attention to my coming and going.

In 1945 I started on my own on Kultorvet and later in Klareboderne”.

Trollbeads Rooster (retired) designed by Svend Nielsen

Svend designed many Trollbeads charm beads for the collection. The cockerel, hen and chick are motifs often used in Svend’s designs and products. Have a look here and tell us which is your favourite in a comment below…

Magdalena was born in Warsaw in 1972, but emigrated in 1983 with her family to Italy. In Italy she went to the “Accademia di belle Arti” in Florence and graduated with honours. In 1997 she returned to Poland.

Trollbeads Expectation

Her beautiful new designs which were part of the stunning Trollbeads Autumn Collection 2011 include Expectation 11525, Maternity 41820 and Paternity 41821

Trollbeads Maternity

In the past she has made illustrations and vignettes for science fiction, fantasy and RPG magazines as well as worked for advertising agencies. But today she is dedicated to jewellery design and now her fascination of the goldsmith art finally can come true.

Vaineta Gaižutienė

Vaineta’s designs for the stunning Trollbeads Autumn Collection 2011 include the Folklore Kit. This kit of decorative beads captures elements from everyday life, and yet it’s beautiful colours evoke memories of different cultures.

Whirling Adventure, Fireflies, Lake Eye, Flower Clouds, Lucky Clover, Dew Drops – beautiful glass charm beads brimming with inspiration.  “Ever since my childhood I have had a dream to learn to draw. When I first started to work with glass, I understood that I can draw not only on paper but on glass beads too. On the glass I can create wonderful drawings.”

“Glass is a very special material which gives me inspiration and freedom for creation. Glass and music make miracles and help me to create wonderful beads. It is a wonderful feeling to create a new glass bead. Glass bead making is not only my job – it is also my hobby.”
“This new collection was created while waiting for a miracle to come to this world. It is very special to me and it fills me up with good mood and positive emotions”