MEDIA ARCHIVE

May 2006 Issue

THE RING HAS A SECRET
by Elizabeth Weiss
If it were revealed that an artist finds inspiration at The Home Depot, you might think his medium is woodworking or industrial art – something on a big scale, at least. Then what a surprise it would be to discover that the artist, Shandor Madjar, is a metalsmith designer who creates handmade art jewelry. “Lately, much of my inspiration has come from shop tools like pliers or hinged devices,” Madjar admits. But he also reveals that as a consumer of art he is drawn to the female form. Upon seeing his graceful pieces, this artistic bent undoubtedly influences the curving spirals of his pendants, the piercing eyes in his carved faces, and the unexpected shapes of his rings.

“At first I carved wax for casting,” Madjar says, “then wax evolved into other mediums, deer antler, bone, elk and moose antler. Then I combined the mediums, setting deer antler into sterling silver with gold accents.” Jewelry making has always been a career for Madjar. He apprenticed for six and a half years before venturing out on his own. Thanks to his father, Shandor says, “I grew up in a tool infested environment, learning to weld, solder, and rivet at a very young age.”

Madjar's jewelry creations are spellbinding. There is a curiousness about each piece, square bracelets that flow, edges that intrigue, lines that never seem to end. From cuff bracelets to angel wing pendants, from semi precious stone rings to adjustable/reversible pendants, the collection offers something to suit every jewelry lover's taste, whether eclectic, simple, understated, or bold. In fact, it's Madjar's customers who seem to describe his work best, categorizing the work as, “Practical, multifunctional jewelry with a contemporary twist.”

While his original square bracelet is one of his best sellers, Madjar does admit to having a favorite creation of his own. “My message ring. It opens like a pair of pliers and can contain a secret message inside,” he explains. Sounds like quite a mechanical feat. In fact, Madjar is often asked: “Were you a mechanical engineer?” It's no wonder, what with the miniature works of kinetic art that come from his artistic vision. It seems the curiosity of all ages is sparked by the sometimes irrelevant application of moving parts in his jewelry. And many more new concept designs are promised from this artist: rings that turn into pendants, multi-size rings that can be adjusted to two different sizes, even “finger fit” rings for arthritic fingers.

see www.sugarloafcrafts.com/madjar.html