Wood Jewelry - Fashionable, Organic, and Versatile

The Uniquity of Wood Jewelry

Wood has been used for centuries to create beads and jewelry in many different cultures, and it offers tremendous versatility and a timeless aesthetic in the realm of art and craft.

This lens was created to celebrate the medium of wood in jewelry design. Wood is an ordinary material that is relatively inexpensive. However, it has been a material of choice for talented artisans and jewelers who create ornaments for the body. Used alone or in combination with other materials, it can be found in a wide range of styles and in pieces that exhibit impeccable craftsmanship.

Contemporary Wood Jewelry (Shops)

OCULUS JEWELRY: Check out this bold line of unique wood cuff bracelets created by New Hampshire artists Celeste Lambert and Bear Kirkpatrick.
MODICA DESIGN: This spectacular wood and resin jewelry is designed by Portland, Oregon artist Cristina Aucone. These modern wood pieces are filled with stunning, gorgeous color.
LOEWESTAMM WOODEN JEWELRY: Based in the Ukraine, the family-owned company Loewestamm offers wood jewelry pieces that have a very organic look.
FRINGE COLLECTION (an Etsy shop): Artist Paige C. is creating wood jewelry masterpieces. Take a look at this collection- you won't be disappointed!
ORNO (an Etsy shop): Montreal artist Carla Smiley cuts geometric patterns from blanks of exotic wood to create these simple, yet striking jewelry pieces.
NATURALEZANICA (an Etsy shop): Don't miss the lovely jewelry of Nicaraguan jewelry artist Marlon Obando Salano. His pieces are sophisticated, beautifully organic in form, and eco-friendly.
CHIOSONNE & CO.: These elegant pieces are designed and laser cut by Carlos Chiosonne in his New York studio. His jewelry is made from eco-sustainable wood.
GOOD WOOD NYC: New York artist Kerri O'Connell creates fantastically funky wood rings that can be worn on two, three, or four fingers. She custom carves pure wood rings and she also offers a line of rings in bright, bold colors. You can also request a custom order, so be sure to check out her site!
iWOOD ECODESIGN: Be sure to visit designer Stephen McMenamin's online shop. His wood jewelry designs are both primitive and modern, if you are open to the idea that both qualities can exist within the same piece!
SILVERCOCOON (an Etsy shop): Minnesota artist Tia Salmela Keobounpheng creates jewelry that is geometric and feminine. Although she designs pieces in a variety of materials, her wood jewelry is particularly appealing.

Contemporary Wood Jewelry (Artists' sites)

Anthony Roussel: These unusual laser cut pieces by UK artist Anthony Roussel offer a fresh perspective on texture, form, and color in wood jewelry.
Catherine Truman: Australian jewelry artist Catherine Truman creates distinctive and thought-provoking pieces intricately carved from lime wood. She is an acclaimed jeweler and has studied with Netsuke carvers in Japan.
Kirsten Bak: Danish jewelry designer Kirsten Bak has created the wood and resin Unicated series of rings which feature a very organic form and are made from sections of trees where the branch divides. Bak has stated that "each ring tells the story of a tree."
Christine J. Brandt: Designed by Ohio-based jewelry artist Christine J. Brandt, this exquisite jewelry is made from hand-carved exotic wood and is embellished with brilliant minerals and semi-precious stones.
Bronwynn Lusted and Paul McEwan: Australian artists (and husband and wife), Bronwynn Lusted and Paul McEwan are creating some of the most intricate and sculptural wood jewelry pieces on the market today.
Bethan Laura Wood: This story from Refinery29 features the London-based company WOOD and the accessory line Link created by designer Bethan Laura Wood.

Other Fun Shops!

Monogrammed Wood Jewelry: If you like wood jewelry, bold colors, and monograms, this engraved wood jewelry sold by Morgan & Company is definitely worth checking out!

Wood Jewelry on eBay

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Creating Wood Jewelry (My Favorite Books)

The Art of Jewelry: Wood: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration (Art of Jewelry)

by Terry Taylor

This is the most recently published book about making jewelry from wood. This guide contains sections on the characteristics of wood, woodworking techniques, tools, and metalworking basics. The book also features 29 wood jewelry projects that utilize a wide variety of processes, and were designed by 21 contemporary jewelry artists from around the world. In addition to the individual projects, the artists' gallery pages are incredibly inspirational. **Highly recommended.**

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 10/10/2008)

The Art Of Making Fine Wood Jewelry

by Tony Lydgate

This book features the work of 24 contemporary woodworkers. The jewelry examples in this book are beautiful (but a little more conceptually conservative). However, this guide provides another source of woodworking ideas. There is also a strong emphasis on jewelry pieces made from wood laminates. (Out of print; available through third-party sellers only.)

Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)

Woodturning Jewellery

by Hilary Bowen

Although it focuses on woodturning specifically, this book is spectacular. As this author states, this book is not for "complete beginners." However, for woodturners who would like to explore jewelry making, or for jewelry artisans who would like to explore woodturning, this book is a great resource. I highly recommend this book for section three alone, which includes tips on stains and dyes, inlaying wire, and other decorative and finishing techniques. Even if you're not ready to jump into woodturning, these ideas can be applied to other types of wood jewelry construction.

Amazon Price: $15.61 (as of 10/10/2008)

The Art and Craft of Jewelry

by Janet Fitch

This book features jewelry projects that use a wide range of materials. However, the section on wood shows several inspirational examples of jewelry design. (Out of print; available through third-party sellers only.)

Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)

Select Wood Jewelry

Wood Block Jewelry

Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)

Winner's Circle Necklace

Amazon Price: $76.00 (as of 10/10/2008)

Steven Shein Mini Stacked Laser Cut Wood & Acrylic Necklace -- Bummy Rabbit ( Turquoise And Blue Glitter)

Amazon Price: $44.99 (as of 10/10/2008)

Flower Power Burnished Wood Disc Drop Earrings

Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)

KIRRA Wood Multi Bead Bracelet

Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)

Wood In Vintage Costume Jewelry

Miriam Haskell Wood Jewelry - Item #1

Although I have a very strong interest in contemporary jewelry made from wood, there are also wonderful examples of costume jewelry that incorporate wood. I am particularly drawn to Miriam Haskell jewelry designed in the 1940s (during World War II).

Here is a matching necklace and bracelet that feature a striking organic design prominent in several of her wood pieces.

Miriam Haskell Wood Turned Parure available at Sassy Classics Antique Jewelry

Miriam Haskell Wood Jewelry - Item #2

In terms of both color and design, this is a stunning piece attributed to Miriam Haskell. It incorporates both geometric and organic shapes, which makes it particularly appealing.

Miriam Haskell Wood Clip Fan Brooch available at Milky Way Jewels

Miriam Haskell Wood Jewelry - Item #3

Many of Miriam Haskell's designs feature organic elements and motifs from nature. Here is another beautiful example in wood.

Miriam Haskell Dangling Wood & Glass Flower Pin available at Vintage Jewelry Online.com

The Best Book on Miriam Haskell Jewelry

(Including Examples of Wood Jewelry)

Miriam Haskell Jewelry (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

by Cathy Gordon, Sheila Pamfiloff

This comprehensive guide is considered to be the definitive work on Miriam Haskell jewelry. If you would like to learn more about Miriam Haskell's handcrafted pieces, or if you are looking for inspiration based on innovative costume jewelry design, this is an essential book.

Amazon Price: $37.77 (as of 10/10/2008)