In the course of my day job, I often have to fill up my head with facts on a range of diverse and obscure topics. The latest in this long list of subjects is contemporary jewelry design, and while doing some researchy rummagings, I stumbled across a reference to a jewelry design competition that took place in Germany in 2002, entitled "Wurst und Schmuck". Immediately I was intrigued, because the name means "Sausage and Jewelry".
So was there really a contest that involved making jewelry from sausages? Well, sort of. The actual theme was jewelry inspired by sausages, and most of the designs simply borrowed the shape or colour of sausages (or related meat products), but a couple of them did actually contain the real thing.
![No sir, as we rehearsed: poetry first, sausage later.]()
On the left, a necklace by Danish designer Trine Wilkens, made of dyed pig intestine and a bicycle inner tube! On the right, a pendant by German designer Monika Jakubec, made of silver, polyester, zirconia, silk and a piece of salami! Ideal for those who want to flaunt their carnivorous nature but aren't quite ready for the Lady Gaga meat dress look. (Personally, I think I'll pass: I'm a vegetarian, after all.)
For jewelry involving sausages of a more euphemistic variety, however, check out this naughty necklace by designer Andrea Velazquez. Although if you're at work, it may not be ideal for either wearing or clicking on...
Moving on to other bodily parts, I rather like this necklace by Argentinian designers Marina Molinelli Wells and Celina Saubidet:
![Them bones, them bones, them dry bones...]()
Slightly gruesome but pretty cool, and I think it'd be relatively wearable, although perhaps not if you work in the health and safety field (please keep all appendages away from sharp blades).
Or for something completely different, look at these beautiful miniature city rings by Vicki Ambery-Smith:
![Shiny things!]()
On the left, Venice; on the right, Oxford. I believe she's made a London ring as well, but I couldn't find a picture of it online. You'd need to keep them away from your delicate knitwear, but I could stare at them for ages.
Finally and rather more accessibly, if you're looking for gift ideas for mythologically minded mates, this sphinx pendant and griffin pendant from Winged Lion are pretty groovy, and I think it's safe to say that no sphinxes or griffins were harmed in their creation...
So was there really a contest that involved making jewelry from sausages? Well, sort of. The actual theme was jewelry inspired by sausages, and most of the designs simply borrowed the shape or colour of sausages (or related meat products), but a couple of them did actually contain the real thing.
On the left, a necklace by Danish designer Trine Wilkens, made of dyed pig intestine and a bicycle inner tube! On the right, a pendant by German designer Monika Jakubec, made of silver, polyester, zirconia, silk and a piece of salami! Ideal for those who want to flaunt their carnivorous nature but aren't quite ready for the Lady Gaga meat dress look. (Personally, I think I'll pass: I'm a vegetarian, after all.)
For jewelry involving sausages of a more euphemistic variety, however, check out this naughty necklace by designer Andrea Velazquez. Although if you're at work, it may not be ideal for either wearing or clicking on...
Moving on to other bodily parts, I rather like this necklace by Argentinian designers Marina Molinelli Wells and Celina Saubidet:
Slightly gruesome but pretty cool, and I think it'd be relatively wearable, although perhaps not if you work in the health and safety field (please keep all appendages away from sharp blades).
Or for something completely different, look at these beautiful miniature city rings by Vicki Ambery-Smith:
On the left, Venice; on the right, Oxford. I believe she's made a London ring as well, but I couldn't find a picture of it online. You'd need to keep them away from your delicate knitwear, but I could stare at them for ages.
Finally and rather more accessibly, if you're looking for gift ideas for mythologically minded mates, this sphinx pendant and griffin pendant from Winged Lion are pretty groovy, and I think it's safe to say that no sphinxes or griffins were harmed in their creation...