A journey of inspiration: Giovanni Corvaja’s work
In the previous article Understanding the Value of Handmade Jewellery we talked about all the steps needed to create a piece of jewellery, today I want to talk about where the ideas come from, inspiration can come from technology, arts and nature but also from the work of people we admire.
“The William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery, V&A” by 
Giovanni Corvaja
The first time I encountered Giovanni Corvaja’s work was at the Victoria & Albert Museum. I still remember standing in awe before a gold hexagonal cage, meticulously crafted to protect a delicate lattice of gold and platinum threads, the extreme thinness of the metal evoked a sense of wonder that immediately captured me: how far can you push the ductility of a metal?
Born in Padua, student of Paolo Maurizio and Francesco Pavan and honed at the Royal College of Art in London, Corvaja’s cultural background goes beyond the academy, in fact physics and chemistry run in his blood as a legacy from his parents, just looking around his workshop you realise all the influence science had on his creative process. I haven’t been to his workshop but during the COVID19 pandemic, when in-person exhibitions were rare, Corvaja hosted a series of chats on Instagram. In these sessions, he opened the doors of his “lab" to us, showcasing his machinery (some of it self constructed, some of it very technological and the other third very vintage!) and sharing detailed stories behind his pieces. His work isn’t just jewelry, it’s an exploration of form, texture, and the extraordinary potential of precious metals, he works with modern, traditional and rare techniques such as “niello”, he masters pressure and vacuum, science has endowed him with a unique technical perspective rarely seen among jewellers.
April 30 2022 Florence Jewellery Week - Le Arti Orafe at Palazzo del Pegaso Florence. STRAODINARIO
The Golden Fleece Headpiece: thousands of hours of work and 160 km of gold thread as thin and soft as fur.
A Personal Encounter in Milan
In February of this year, I had the pleasure of meeting him in person, at Salotto SPJ the first of many events Josefine Spjeldnæs plans to host in Milan. Corvaja was incredibly approachable and friendly, he took the time to share the story of his artistic journey. The highlight of the evening was when he allowed me to hold one of his pieces in my hand. Feeling the weight, texture, and precision of his work was a tactile confirmation of everything I had admired from afar.
Conclusion
From the first sight of his brooch at the V&A Giovanni Corvaja’s artistry has continually inspired us. His ability to merge art with scientific precision, fuelled by a continual research and experimentation, redefines what handcrafted jewelry can be. Each encounter with his work, whether viewed through a museum display, on a digital screen, or held in one's hand is a reminder that true craftsmanship is timeless and pushes us to look beyond, with wonder and optimism.
