Anthony

Jewellery sculpting artisan

Before existing in gold and precious stones, some Haute Joaillerie creations are first made up in wax. And it is Anthony who carries out the sculpting thereof work, by applying his artistically gifted hands. Working from the drawing that is submitted to him, the jewellery sculptor uses his tools to create the first three-dimensional model of the jewellery to come. Once completed, it will serve as the mould in which a rough gold version will be replicated.

Anthony fully embodies what we call manual intelligence. For this Artisan specialised in wax sculpture, who joined our Haute Joaillerie workshops in 2006, working with his hands is more than just a skill, and more than just a profession: it is a passion. The challenge lies in transforming a two-dimensional drawing into an ephemeral sculpture carved in three dimensions from a block of wax. While the sketch served to highlight the colour and intensity of the gems, the sculpture will reveal the volumes of the jewellery creation to be.

Anthony offers his own interpretation of the project with the help of his tools, fully expressing his creativity to transform what was hitherto only a dream into a palpable reality. As he carves away the wax to give shape to his model, however, Anthony appears to be immersed in a dream, as if he himself were becoming the object he is fashioning. When he makes a flower-shaped piece of jewellery, he becomes the flower and blooms in the same way. When it is an animal, he transforms himself into that animal and seeks to imitate its gestures and gait. Thanks to these dreams, Anthony lives a thousand lives! Once his sculpture is completed, it will resemble the future jewellery creation and will be used in the lost wax casting workshop to be melted down, giving way to a similar shape in gold.

"As a jewellery sculpting Artisan in Chopard’s Haute Joaillerie ateliers, my work is to give life to an idea, a sketch, a gemstone or just a theme. Even though this can involve lengthy research, it fulfils my vital need to work with my hands. I am driven by the idea that each second devoted to this quest for perfection is totally worth it."

Anthony, jewellery sculpting artisan