A fairy tale of passion, beauty and craftsmanship...

The story behind the designers of The Jewelry Story…
Jan Kerkstra and Marion Pannekoek, the designers of The Jewelry Story, are making beautiful designed handcrafted jewelry. All their designs are made with special attention for detail and comfort. The jewelry is made with love and a high standard of craftsmanship witch you find seldom in The Netherlands. Before they moved to the Dutch countryside, Jan and Marion lived for years in The United States of America where they had their own circle of clientele. Their jewelry has been sold in all the major galleries from New York to Los Angeles. Until this day most of the names of their pieces carry English names.

Inspiration from the past and the future...
Jan Kerkstra and Marion Pannekoek both have their own style of working and designing.
Jan often finds his inspiration in the past while Marion looks more to the future.

Jan:
“I am fascinated by centuries-old forms from Egypt and Africa. The miraculous pyramids and hieroglyphics from Egypt and the mystic wooden masks from Africa, those forms are a big inspiration to me”. The African influence for instance is very clear in de pendants and sculptures Jan makes out of ebony wood.
For Marion the world around her and future trends are of influence on her designs.

Marion:
“I find inspiration in art, fashion and architecture”.
Still one can see in some of her pieces an ethnic influence.
The tasks between the two partners are not always strictly divided, because they also influence and inspire each other. Often they work together to develop a design. They both have a different line of approach and that creates synergy.

Filing, polishing and craftsmanship...
Besides form and concept, the materials they use for their jewelry are also surprising.
Jan and Marion combine for instance ( precious) metal with ebony- or cherry wood.

Marion:
“We like to make timeless pieces for people who have an eye for good design and craftsmanship. For independent women who are not enslaved by trendy labels. Lasting jewelry made in Holland with a fair price."

Jan:
“We file and polish as long as necessary to give the jewelry the perfect form and quality that stays for many years to come”.

The work of Kerkstra and Pannekoek has won many prices and is part of the permanent collection of the Downey Museum of art in Downey California and the Friese Museum (the Frisian Museum) in Leeuwarden.

(For our résumé, please scrol down)

Résumé

Personalia
The love and partnerership between Jan Kerkstra and Marion Pannekoek 
is  already going strong for more than 20 years

Abroad and study
1984-1990 Athens, Georgia, USA

Education
Vakschool Edelsmeden Amsterdam
University of Georgia USA art department

Galleries en exhibitions
2011 Cordels Kunstkliniek, group exhibition, Gorredijk
2010 Vormgevers in de Oude Hortus, University Museum, Utrecht
2009 Galerie Sjoch Beetsterzwaag
2008 Museum Vosbergen, Eelde
2007 Platform SIERAAD, RAI, Amsterdam
2007 Galerie Bushalte, Culemborg
2006  Platform SIERAAD, RAI, Amsterdam
2006  Galerie – beeldentuin Dehullu, Gees
2006  Galerie Loes Koster, Muntendam
2005  Galerie Terbeek , Kropswolde
2004  Platform SIERAAD, Enschede
2003  St. Joseph Galerie, Leeuwarden
2003  Platform SIERAAD, Enschede
2002  Galerie Hoogenbosch, Gorredijk
2002  Platform SIERAAD, Hengelo
2001  St. Joseph Galerie, Leeuwarden
1999  “Zilverglans langs de IJsel”, Deventer Museum
1998  “Samensmeden”, Maupertuus Groningen
1998  Holland Art Fair, Den Haag
1997  “Pronken aan Tafel”, De Watertoren Schoonhoven
1997  “Pronken aan Tafel”, Fries Museum Leeuwarden
1997  Holland Art Fair, Den Haag
1996  Galerie Hoogenbosch, Gorredijk
1996  Holland Art Fair, Den Haag
1995  “Sier en Tooi” in Kunsthal 88, Almelo
1994  Galerie Guthschmidt, Den Haag

Selection of  galleries en exhibitions before 1995
Sculpture to Wear, Los Angeles, California, USA
Aliya Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Aurum Studio, Athens, Georgia, USA
Washington Craftshow, Washington D.C. USA
Telluride Gallery of Fine Art, Telluride, Colorado, USA
Graveline Metal Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Piedmonts Craftsman Inc. Show, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
The American Artisan, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Joan Michlin Gallery, New York, New York, USA

Special commissions, awards and publications
2011 "New Rings" 500+ designs from around the world by Nicolas Estrada,Spain
2009 Opdracht Provincie Friesland voor een Zilveren Onderscheiding en een Estafette stokje
2009 Opdracht Fries Waterschap voor een Zilveren Onderscheiding
2008 Prijsvraag gewonnen met het ontwerp voor een trofee voor de sportvrouw- man van  het  jaar, uitgeschreven door de Provincie Friesland .
2005  Collectie zilveren sieraden ontworpen voor het Hunebedcentrum in Borger
2003  Vredeman de Vries Vormgevingsprijs, Friesland
1995  Ambtsketen, Kollummerland
1988  1e prijs Competition Downey Museum of Art, Downey, California
1986  1e prijs Metro Art Competition, New York, New York, USA

Museum collection
Our jewelry and/or objects are part of the permanent collection of:
Fries Museum, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia,  South Carolina, U.S.A.

Activaties of our studio
2011 Participant in: Open Ateliers Opsterland
Presentation of our new collection of jewelry:
2011 In Huis Expositie with Dinie Boogaart en Peter Hiemstra, Wijnjewoude
2009 Gallery Sjoch, Beetsterzwaag
2008 Museum  Vosbergen, Eelde
2007 Galerie Hoogenbosch Gorredijk
2006 Witte Kerkje, Hemrik

Besides working in his own studio, Jan Kerkstra is teaching metalsmithing since 2006 at De Meldij, Centrum voor de Kunsten (centrum for the Arts) in Drachten