Candice Egloff uses eggshells to create her jewels. She shows us her studio and reveals more details about her working process.
Where are you working ?
I work at home in my small appartment in Bordeaux. I have established a cozy and welcoming workshop that suits me.
What is your favourite tools? How does it work?
Well…it is not very glamorous but toothpicks and tweezers are my essential tools to work. This is how I arrange eggshells one by one, side by side. Otherwise, emery paper is also necessary to work (to have flat surfaces) as well as glue.
How do you choose your raw materials ?
I use my production process on all possible materials, I do not have any limit : wood, stone, plastic, metal and even mother-of-pearl. I can truly do anything! My only concern is to use an eco-responsible policy and to recycle.
Fabriques-tu toi même tous les bijoux de ta collection? Do you produce all the pieces by yourslef?
Yes, I do everything on my own : production, communication and marketing. It is hard to juggle with all these responsabilities.
Why have you chosen this specific production process?
I learned this process from my mother who discovered it during her different trips to Asia. It is an ancestral technique. In Asia, they mainly use it for the furniture or decorative panels (wall hangings). My mother was also using it for furniture but it was a huge work to decorate a dresser with eggshells! I had this idea to create jewels with eggshells on my own. In this process, I really like this process, a simple eggshell becomes an organic and ethnic material. I also really like this beautiful mosaic effect, by the way, some persons often ask me if it is enamel or shagreen (extremely expensive fish skin). I also appreciate my peticulous gesture, I am always very proud when I finish a piece.
What is a typical working day?
With this process, there are different steps : eggshells arrangement, colouring and finally, lacquer application (varnish), a dozen of layers on almost all the jewels. It will strengthen the piece. Between each step, a dozen of hours of rest break is necessary. As a result, one day I apply the eggshells on the pices, the day after I colour it. Just to give you an example, 4 to 5 hours of eggshells application are necessary to create a XXL cuff.
To read the next part : Candice Egloff – 3/3 More details about Candice…
Photos : © Candice Egloff. Photographies fournies par Candice Egloff et publiées avec son autorisation.
