meet the sisters: anna butwell
ANNA BUTWELL:
I ENJOYED WORKING WITH MY HANDS AND THE POTENTIAL BLOODSHED.
ANNA BUTWELL RUNS METAL ATELIER AND MAKES F*CK STUDS FOR A LIVING. WE MET DURING THE WOOD JEWELRY WORKSHOP SHE ATTENDED AS A STUDENT.
How was your experience with Berlin Wood Sisters?
It was quite lovely last summer in the halcyon days between lockdowns to come and do a workshop with Berlin Wood Sisters. I was impressed with the variety of options of different kinds of wood available and had no idea how different the properties between, say, pine and ebony are. Having the opportunity to play with different materials than what I usually work with was refreshing, although I ended up attaching the piece I made to a silver band to complete the ring.
I remember you talking about that you prefer working with power tools. How did you become familiar with power tools?
My generation may be one of the last that shop and tech classes were still required for everyone in a public school in the US. In these classes, we learned how to cut wood and metal and build basic things with them. The shop was pretty well equipped with lots of power tools and welding equipment that I doubt 13-year-olds would be allowed to use so freely today. I think I may have mostly been into the danger of it, as I was terrible at measuring things and cutting straight lines, but enjoyed working with my hands and the potential bloodshed.
What was your first project?
In this class we built birdhouses (I cracked the roof of mine), load-bearing bridges out of balsa wood (mine was horribly designed and broke under little weight), and also had a metal project. Most of the class built simple shelf brackets. There was, however, the option to work with an arc welder or learn to braze. Never one to shy away from open flame, I designed a multi-component steel coat rack that required said arc welder to be assembled. The instructor basically moved my hands where they were supposed to be to do the actual welding, but a love of dangerous tools and fire was born.
What is the best part of being a metal artist?
I love prototyping and figuring out how a new technique works. Once I have figured it out, I lose interest rapidly and want to try something new. Unfortunately, this is very bad for business and I allow myself limited studio playtime. One of the best parts of what I do is seeing commissions through from design and consultation with clients to a finished piece, and seeing their excitement when their vision is realized. It is also great fun when students use a 2300° C torch for the first time and melt solid silver into liquid and eventually create a finished piece of jewelry from recycled metal.
What is your least favorite part of it?
My least favorite part of what I do is computer work. As any small business owner will attest, the amount of time spent on the bureaucratic un-fun bits is generally equal to or greater than the amount of time spent creating beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces of handcraft.
“Far outstripping anything I have made, my F*ck rings became the anchor of my last collection,” Anna says.
Tell me about your brand Metal Atelier, how did you start it?
Metal Atelier came to exist early in my jewelry journey. My last name is Butwell, so it was never really an option to make it a namesake brand. I did briefly consider starting a fetish line called Butwell Schmuck (Schmuck means “jewelry” in German - editor), but that is neither here nor there.
Who are your customers?
I have a mixed client base, most of my jewelry clients are from the US with what I would call a left-wing or rebellious streak that was perhaps a bit stronger in the past, but which remains in more subtle ways today.
Locally, most of my wedding and partner ring clients are people who would generally vomit at traditional mass-produced tokens of love and prefer something made with a bit more heart and soul.
My students run the gamut of backgrounds ranging from art students to doctors and lawyers to other artists on holiday in Berlin, some interested in trying something completely new, others with experience exploring a new technique. Meeting people from all over the world and hearing their stories has become a bit of armchair travel for me.
What is your signature product?
Far outstripping anything I have made, my F*ck rings became the anchor of my last collection. Alone in my studio in March 2020, I started stamping the word “f*ck” on signet rings. Somehow that sentiment resonated with the general populace at the time, and I have sent them off to many far corners of the world.
Who can come to your workshops, do I have to have any previous experience if I want to attend your metal workshop?
I offer jewelry workshops. As the world settles down a bit, I am very excited to be offering small group classes again. The door is and always will be open to anyone who is not a Nazi, fascist, racist, homophobe, or transphobe. In general, if you are an asshole please don’t reach out. That is really the only requirement outside of some CoVid regulations. Most of my students come in with no experience and leave with a self-made shiny silver object. Currently on offer is a 4-hour intro course to make a simple ring or a bangle bracelet, an all-day class learning to bezel set a stone, or a 4-week evening course where heavy signet rings can be made or found objects can be cast.
FOLLOW ANNA AND METAL ATELIER ON INSTAGRAM AND BUY HER JEWELRY ART HERE. WITH CODE SISTER10 GOOD FOR 10% OFF CLASSES OR JEWELRY.
