Skip to main content

Who is Rudolf Heltzel

An icon of Irish craft and design Rudolf Heltzel was one of the finest designers worldwide, he was originally from Berlin, Germany.

 

Who is Rudolf Heltzel

An icon of Irish craft and design Rudolf Heltzel was one of the finest designers worldwide, he was originally from Berlin, Germany.

 

His journey

In 1956, at the age of 16, he studied at the Meisterschule für das Kunsthandwerk in Berlin. He was admitted thanks to his exceptional talent, despite the college policy of not admitting anyone under 18.

His first job was to work with acclaimed Silversmith Max Olofs, Germany, making baptismal fonts, taberbacles, chalices and other mainly ecclesiastical items.

At 23, he moved to Stockholm to work with Sigurd Persson, one of the most influential Jewellery and Industrial Designers of the 1950s and 1960s. Rudolf worked there first as a Silversmith and then as a Goldsmith.

A couple of years later, in 1966, An Córas Trachtala / The Irish Export Board invited Rudolf to Ireland to establish a Jewellery and Metalsmithing workshop at the newly formed Kilkenny Design Workshops. Both there afterwards he trained many Irish goldsmiths who are still working today.

In 1968 he opened Rudolf Heltzel working as an independent designer and maker of high-end jewellery and holloware with a studio in Kilkenny, where his son Christopher and his co-workers and apprentices still work today.

 

His journey

In 1956, at the age of 16, he studied at the Meisterschule für das Kunsthandwerk in Berlin. He was admitted thanks to his exceptional talent, despite the college policy of not admitting anyone under 18.

His first job was to work with acclaimed Silversmith Max Olofs, Germany, making baptismal fonts, taberbacles, chalices and other mainly ecclesiastical items.

At 23, he moved to Stockholm to work with Sigurd Persson, one of the most influential Jewellery and Industrial Designers of the 1950s and 1960s. Rudolf worked there first as a Silversmith and then as a Goldsmith.

A couple of years later, in 1966, An Córas Trachtala / The Irish Export Board invited Rudolf to Ireland to establish a Jewellery and Metalsmithing workshop at the newly formed Kilkenny Design Workshops. Both there afterwards he trained many Irish goldsmiths who are still working today.

In 1968 he opened Rudolf Heltzel working as an independent designer and maker of high-end jewellery and holloware with a studio in Kilkenny, where his son Christopher and his co-workers and apprentices still work today.

 

Behind the scenes

As well as designing and making high-end jewellery and silver holloware, Rudolf Heltzel has created designs for international fashion jewellery companies, has lectured at University, was consultant and adviser to jewellery manufacturing companies in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Jordan, Botswana and the Caribbean.

Rudolf was also instrumental in the establishment of the original Design and Crafts Council Jewellery Skills Training course.

He has shown his jewellery creations in exhibitions in Japan, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, the U.K., Denmark, Sweden and U.S.A.

 

His designs

Over the past six decades, Rudolf Heltzel has gained an international reputation for the originality and quality of his work, each piece having a timeless aesthetic, crafted meticulously by hand using some of the world’s oldest jewellery techniques. His timeless designs and impeccable workmanship have won him international acclaim.

 

His designs

Over the past six decades, Rudolf Heltzel has gained an international reputation for the originality and quality of his work, each piece having a timeless aesthetic, crafted meticulously by hand using some of the world’s oldest jewellery techniques. His timeless designs and impeccable workmanship have won him international acclaim.

 

The shop

When you come to see us in person you will receive a very warm welcome!

We enjoy sharing your pleasure in trying on our jewellery and offer you our combined years of advice and knowledge. Seeing and feeling a ring or any other piece of jewellery is a totally different experience to only viewing online.

When choosing any piece of jewellery for yourself or a loved one seeing it on your own hand or neck simplifies your choice as you can judge for yourself how it complements the skin tone and texture.

 

 

Our mission

For Rudolf, jewellery-making is part of a living cultural heritage which takes inspiration from the history, mythology and symbolism through manipulation of precious metals and stones.

Rudolf Heltzel has made his passion for creating distinctive jewellery a reality and his pieces are collector’s items with four generations owning and wearing Rudolf Heltzel.

His advice, and help with developing new collections of jewellery, has been sought by jewellery manufacturers in the Far East, South East Asia, the Near East and in the Caribbean. Both in Ireland and abroad he has been instrumental in establishing training opportunities for jewellery makers and keeping ancient traditional skills alive.