Deep within the Earth, millions of years ago, and formed by the greatest coincidence of specific temperature and pressure, precious gemstones were formed. These rare gemstones, impossible to reproduce, were sought out and subsequently shaped by extremely skilled stone cutters and carvers.
Rudolf Heltzel and his son Christopher travelled to meet these specialist stone cutters to discover within their collections the most beautiful and rare specimens. These are the gemstones that form the basis for his wonderful creations, they are his ‘blank canvas’.
The designs of the pendants are dictated by the aesthetic of the stones and how they will best compliment a woman, resulting in works of extraordinary beauty. Rudolf generally designed to an abstract theme. He chose precious gemstones that complemented the theme, and these gemstones, in turn, influenced the design, as did every cultural, aesthetic and life event that the septuagenarian had experienced. Talent and decades of ‘elbow grease’ also play their part.
Rudolf Heltzel creations
Rudolf’s sensitivity to combining gemstones and precious metal leads to a remarkable fusion of visual beauty and poetic force. His sculptures have stood the tests of time, displaying a subtle yet dynamic beauty rarely seen in this discipline. Remarkably, he has always insisted on an extra dimension of complexity to his creations – they should be functional and comfortable and complement the wearer. Sculpture plus one. Every piece ever made, no matter how diverse in inspiration and look, is distinctly recognisable as a Rudolf Heltzel piece.
His technical virtuosity displays an extraordinary degree of workmanship. In the Rudolf Heltzel workshop, the pieces are made using the most traditional techniques, with skills passed on from master to master over the last few hundred, even thousands of years. This allows pieces to be made that are different from the ‘market-led’ techniques increasingly employed in the industry.
Rudolf trained both in the more sculptural discipline of the silversmith, as well as a goldsmith. He used skills from both of these disciplines in his designs. This further led to their originality. He has insisted on always improving technical skills, pushing the boundaries of design which in turn put pressure on the technical ability. The greater the skills base the more exciting the designs.
Rudolf Heltzel creations
Rudolf’s sensitivity to combining gemstones and precious metal leads to a remarkable fusion of visual beauty and poetic force. His sculptures have stood the tests of time, displaying a subtle yet dynamic beauty rarely seen in this discipline. Remarkably, he has always insisted on an extra dimension of complexity to his creations – they should be functional and comfortable and complement the wearer. Sculpture plus one. Every piece ever made, no matter how diverse in inspiration and look, is distinctly recognisable as a Rudolf Heltzel piece.
His technical virtuosity displays an extraordinary degree of workmanship. In the Rudolf Heltzel workshop, the pieces are made using the most traditional techniques, with skills passed on from master to master over the last few hundred, even thousands of years. This allows pieces to be made that are different from the ‘market-led’ techniques increasingly employed in the industry.
Rudolf trained both in the more sculptural discipline of the silversmith, as well as a goldsmith. He used skills from both of these disciplines in his designs. This further led to their originality. He has insisted on always improving technical skills, pushing the boundaries of design which in turn put pressure on the technical ability. The greater the skills base the more exciting the designs.
The new generation
Rudolf Heltzel designs and creations continue to be entirely made by hand from sheet metal – maintaining Rudolf’s traditional techniques which gives his work a’ very distinct design look and authenticity.
As a master himself, Rudolf passed his skills to his son Christopher who now manages the studio and workshop. positioning Rudolf Heltzel as a family-owned company handed down from father to son.
Christopher is committed to safeguarding his father’s legacy and will maintain the quality and long-term dependability of its design and he is dedicated to perpetuating the Rudolf Heltzel tradition.
Learn more about Rudolf Heltzel here
