Drawing on tradition
A French artist whose creative designs made headlines has returned to Nelson after being locked out for several years.
French designer, illustrator and experimental jewellery maker Tony Furion appeared in Stuff in 2019 when he became jeweller Jens Hansen’s artist in residence.
While there, Furion designed a ring based on the famous Golden Kiwi pendant, one of which was gifted to the Duchess of Cornwall in 2015.
Furion returned to Europe in 2020 to visit family, but was locked out of New Zealand when the borders closed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘‘The plan was to go home to France for just two to three months to say hi to family.
‘‘But Covid happened and the New Zealand borders closed – I missed the window to get back in 2020.’’
Before moving to New Zealand, Furion worked at a jewellery store in Morin, after completing his apprenticeship at the Jewellery Institute of Saumur.
After the border closures he moved to Switzerland, working at a jewellery business while continuing to design for Jens Hansen remotely.
He has now managed to return to Nelson for the final year of his visa.
The artist has now progressed to teaching, Jens Hanson owner Halfdan Hansen said, with Furion leading a design master class in hand sketching and painting jewellery designs.
Furion said he loved teaching. Currently, his four students – fellow jewellers at Jens Hansen – were putting together basic hand drawing and painting techniques he had taught them, and designing a diamond ring for an imaginary customer.
‘‘The customer is me, and I have given them a detailed brief, but I am not easy because I like a lot of different things, so designing the right piece will be a good challenge for them. They are enjoying it, and their designs so far are fantastic.’’
Hansen said people loved to see their custom-designed jewellery hand-drawn, and that it was ‘‘very old school’’.
‘‘It’s what my father did for every piece. It has an authentic look and feel that you can’t replicate with a computer. It is a lovely step in the design process, before we might then use technology to create 3D CAD renders before making the final piece.’’
Furion said he was happy to be back in Nelson.
‘‘It is wonderful to be able to pass on my drawing skills, and to gain extra jewellery making skills from the Jens Hansen experts.’’