A note from Carla
Jewellery and gemstones have been a passion of mine for many years. With endless combinations and styles to explore, each piece offers a unique way to express something personal. Sometimes, they are simply beautiful objects that catch the eye, offering a moment of intrigue as they’re glimpsed in passing.
I started Tarnish & Pearl to share my creations with others, drawing inspiration from the items, objects, and trinkets that spark my curiosity, often inspired by pieces passed down through my family.
I hope the pieces you choose will accompany you on your own journeys, bringing a smile to your face just as they did to mine when I created them.
Yours & .c
Carla Griffin
Maker of Things, Tarnish & Pearl - est. 2024
I share snippets of the items or stories that inspired each piece, ready for you to pick up and add to with your own adventures.
Why Tarnish & Pearl?
I wanted something that referenced both the lustre seen on our metal cast items and on the pearls and gemstones I use in our pieces but also acknowledges their unique imperfections, the blend of perfect and imperfect creating a balance that's uniquely beautiful.
What is lost wax casting?
Lost wax casting is a method of metal casting that has been used for centuries to create jewellery. Getting the process just right is a tricky business and not to mention the molten metal involved, so I work with a fantastic casting company based in Scotland who cast the wax items I’ve created.
The process begins with a model made out of wax. The wax model is then encased in plaster, which hardens around the wax. Once the plaster (or investment as it’s called) is set, it’s heated so the wax inside melts and flows out, leaving an empty cavity in the shape of the original design.
Molten metal is then poured into this cavity. After the metal cools and solidifies, the plaster is broken away, revealing the metal casting, capturing the fine details of the original wax model.
The final piece is then sent back to me so I can clean, polish, and making any final changes to it, before it’s ready for its new home.
Occasionally, I’ll cast pieces myself using a different method called sand casting, most often when it’s less important to have an exact replica of the item made in wax, with the sand used to make the mould often creating a wonderful texture on the final piece.
From a London studio
I work from a small home studio in southwest London, nestled in a quiet corner of our garden. As a self-taught jeweller, I’ve built up my tools and skills gradually, always on a journey to refine and improve.
Many pieces have been sacrificed back into the furnace, melted down to fuel yet another attempt at perfecting a technique—but that’s part of the fun!
Some days, I lose myself for hours choosing just the right combination of pearls and beads before finally stringing them together to create a new necklace. And my favourite days are those when I sit down with nothing but a piece of wax and carving tools, ready to see what shapes will emerge as I chip, cut, and melt away the wax.
My inspiration
I often draw inspiration from the pages of family photo albums and the items that have been left behind or passed down. Each person, with their unique quirks and passions, has left a subtle imprint on the items they left behind — by chance or by choice and I hope to bring a little of those quirks into the items I make.
