In the late 1980’s, Ebbe Weiss-Weingart (b. 1923) was inclined to fall back on found objects such as Roman coins, engraved tiki amulets of nephrite, and especially countless jade pieces. Jade has always been considered in China to be a symbol for the life force and emblematic of perfection. The artist is still fascinated by these representations of past cultures through the present.
Animal motifs carved in high and low relief are contrasted by Ebbe Weiss-Weingart with fine gold and sulfurized silver, with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, or opals as colorful accents. The jadestones are reminiscent of stories about fabled animals, dragons, tigers, or bears. With the most imaginative of supplements, the goldsmith has awakened the jade to new life.
The expressive, often humorous pieces of jewelry by this artist, who lives in Salem, Germany, are contrasted with the works of numerous jewelry designers from all over Europe who have substantially influenced avant-garde jewelry design during the past 25 years. Her works show a completely individual starting point in design, in which new materials and technical possibilities are brought into use. Here too, is often a demonstration of the consequential realization of a design idea that is vitalized by variations in the detail.