Exhibited at 10 Hatton Place
11th November–23rd December
View by appointment only
Wednesdays–Fridays 9am-5pm
Ruth Tomlinson’s anniversary project marks a milestone celebration of 25 years in business and craft through the creation of a “Jeweller’s Hoard,” a collection of 25 unique jewels and objects. Handcrafted from recycled silver and commercially unusable materials such as burnt diamonds, broken gemstones and glass, these pieces are inspired by significant places and people, experiences and moments in Ruth’s career from across the globe. Conceived as votive objects, the hoard will be returned to the locations where the seeds of the ideas were first planted, creating a modern day treasure hunt. Each piece, labelled with the invitation “seek and you shall find,” is intended to instil a sense of wonder and discovery in whoever finds it. This project represents a full cycle of finding and returning, serving as an act of generosity and heartfelt thanks for a quarter-century of creative stories and experiences.
For this collection, to honour 25 years, the pieces are cast in recycled sterling silver, the traditional gift to mark this anniversary.
"A personal pilgrimage to rediscover my roots as a designer maker and an act of gratitude for spontaneous sparks of inspiration. The collection is a way of giving thanks for these encounters while questioning what makes something precious, impermanence, time and the lifecycle of objects. Questioning preciousness, imperfect beauty and the significance of our worldly possessions is what led me to explore my practice of alternative jewellery. Each piece is handcrafted and sculpted in wax using commercially unusable materials collected over my career, such as burnt diamonds, broken or chipped gemstones and glass, with stories and moments from my career imbued into each creation." – Ruth
"Things are because we see them, and what we see, and how we see it, depends on the art that influenced us. To look at a thing is very different from seeing a thing. One does not see anything until one sees its beauty. Then, and then only, does it come into existence." – Oscar Wilde
Travel, landscape and the natural world have long been significant sources of inspiration in Ruth’s work. Experiencing different cultures and environments brings a heightened awareness of the world and its details, from unusual natural forms to overlooked objects and materials. Often, it is less the physical place itself than the feelings and impressions it evokes that find their way into her work.
DIAMOND NECKLACE - Discarded diamonds in recycled silver. (EDINBURGH)
TUMBLING SAPPHIRE CLUSTER RING - Chipped and broken sapphires in recycled sterling silver. (SYDNEY)
RAW SAPPHIRE RING - Preform sapphire, broken sapphire crystal and discarded diamonds in recycled silver. (COLOMBO)
DIAMOND BANGLE - Burnt and chipped diamonds in recycled silver. (KAMIYAMA)
SAPPHIRE BANGLE - Broken sapphires in recycled and oxidised silver. (BRITISH MUSEUM)
The people Ruth has encountered throughout her life and career have played an important role in shaping her practice. From a childhood rich in imagination and family encouragement to the tutors, mentors and collaborators who have offered guidance and opened up new opportunities, these relationships have influenced her creative development in different ways. Often through seemingly small gestures, acts of generosity and moments of encouragement, they have helped shape the course of her journey and the work she has gone on to create.
COINS - Broken and burnt diamonds, sapphires, broken emerald in recycled and oxidised silver. (NEW YORK, LYNN PENINSULA, SILVERDALE, KAUAI, ST IVES, HEYSHAM, LANCASTER, MORECAMBE)
CHAIN NECKLACE - Burnt and discarded diamonds in recycled silver. (CAMBER)
DIAMOND RING - Discarded and chipped antique diamond in recycled silver. (HATTON GARDEN)
"The treasure which you think not worth taking trouble and pains to find, this one alone is the real treasure you are longing for all your life. The glittering treasure you are hunting for day and night, lies buried on the other side of that hill yonder." – B. Traven
Ruth’s practice is rooted in a questioning of conventional perceptions of beauty, value and preciousness. Drawn to the overlooked, the imperfect and the unconventional, she explores the potential of materials and objects that might otherwise be dismissed. Her work challenges established ideas of what makes something precious, seeking to reveal the beauty and significance of things that may otherwise go unnoticed.
ENCRUSTED NECKLACE - Discarded sapphires and rubies in oxidised silver. (BRIGHTON)
EMERALD RING - Broken emerald in oxidised silver. (NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM)
SAPPHIRE RING - Broken sapphires and rubies in oxidised silver. (KO LANTA)
CITRINE RING - Broken citrine in oxidised recycled silver. (JAIPUR)
ENCRUSTED PIN - Discarded rubies and sapphires in oxidised silver. (LUNE VALLEY)
Ruth’s creative process is shaped by an ongoing enquiry into materials, techniques and the possibilities of making. Through collecting, researching and experimenting, she explores how different materials might be transformed, often allowing the process itself to determine the direction of an idea. Unexpected results, chance encounters and the discovery of new textures and forms become an important part of this exploration, with experimentation frequently providing the starting point for new work.
AQUAMARINE RING - ‘Hackney diamond’, discarded aquamarine and natural aquamarine crystal in recycled silver. (HACKNEY)
SILVER PIN - Burnt diamonds in recycled silver. (MANCHESTER)
DIAMOND CLUSTER PIN - Discarded diamonds in sterling silver. (V&A MUSEUM)
CLUSTER RING - Glass, fake citrine from India and paste in recycled silver. (ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART)
CITRINE NECKLACE - Chipped citrine and broken herkimer diamonds on found oxidised silver chain. (CROWHURST)
The hoard is ultimately created to be released and separated. After exhibiting the pieces at Ruth's London Atelier, the jewels will be given back to their sources – hidden, buried, hung and left to be discovered. Each item becomes a small offering and hopefully a moment of wonder for its finder who can choose its next fate.
The Devotive creations will be offered back out into the world in early 2027. Please keep an eye out for updates and if you find one, we'd love to hear from you.
The Devotives exhibition runs from 11th November–23rd December at Ruth's London Atelier in the heart of Hatton Garden. You'll be able to discover all of the creations alongside objects of inspiration, found and collected by Ruth over her career. Open by appointment Wednesdays–Fridays 9am–5pm.
If you'd like to receive a complimentary copy of our exhibition keepsake booklet, please submit your details and a copy will be shipped to you wherever you are in the world.