PORTFOLIO
SINCE OPENING MY STUDIO IN 1988,
I’ve made various one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces. On this page, some examples. Most unite beads and metal - my two favorite materials - in one way or another. A few transcend the decorative mode to reflect more substantive concerns. At right, one example, with several more at the bottom of this page.
Right: “A Hundred Flowers, A Hundred Thoughts,” by Valerie Hector. Pair of brooches loosely modeled after antique Chinese hair ornaments. Sterling silver, vintage metal and plastic badges produced in China during the Cultural Revolution era (1966-1976).
Photo: Copyright Valerie Hector
“Green Necklace,” 1998-2000.
Antique Venetian glass beads, sterling silver, wood, silk.
Private Collection.
“Sinology” Brooch, 2001
Sterling silver, wood, antique and contemporary glass beads.
Private collection, Toronto.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Golden Moon” Brooch, 2002
Glass and metal seed beads stitched around the rungs of a hand-fabricated sterling silver armature.
Artist’s collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Red Star” Brooch, 2002
Glass and metal seed beads stitched around the rungs of a hand-fabricated sterling silver armature.
3 3/4” diam. x 1/2” h.
Collection of Kate Wall Ganz.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Rust Lotus” Necklace, 2003
Beads of vintage synthetic Japanese resin and oxidized sterling silver.
12 12” diam. x 2 3/4” h.
Collection of Rebecca Klemm.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Celestial Spheres” Bracelet, 2004
Antique and contemporary European glass beads, antique Chinese cinnabar bead, sterling silver beads, hand-fabricated sterling silver magnetic clasp.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Pillows” Bracelet, 2004
Contemporary European glass beads, sterling silver beads, hand-fabricated sterling silver magnetic clasp.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Celestial Spheres” Necklace, 2004.
Antique and contemporary European glass beads, sterling silver beads, hand-fabricated sterling silver magnetic clasp.
22” l. x 1 1/4” d.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Double Sterling Lotus” Necklace, 2006.
Sterling silver beads, hand-fabricated sterling silver magnetic clasp.
11” diam. x 1 3/4” w. x 3/4” h.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“China Spring” Necklace, 2006
Antique and contemporary European glass beads, sterling silver beads, hand-fabricated sterling silver magnetic clasp.
11 1/2” diam. x 3/4” d.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Veneration” Brooch, 2006
Sterling silver beads and hand-fabricated armature.
3 3/4” w. x 4 7/8” h.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Accordion” Bracelet, 2006
Sterling beads, hand-fabricated sterling hollow form magnetic clasp.
7 1/2” l. x 1 3/4” h. x 3/4” d.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Bodhi” Brooch, 2008
Sterling silver beads with hand-fabricated and cast sterling silver armature.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Cinnabar Spirals” Necklace, 2012
European glass and sterling beads stitched to hand-fabricated sterling silver armatures.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Cinnabar Spirals” Earrings, 2012
Sterling silver beads with hand-fabricated and cast sterling silver armature.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Cinnabar Wrap Necklace,” 2012
European glass and sterling silver beads, sterling silver chain.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Cinnabar Lotus” Brooch, 2015
European glass and sterling silver beads, hand-fabricated sterling silver armature.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Cinnabar Chain” Necklace, 2015
European glass and sterling silver beads stitched to hand-fabricated sterling silver armatures. With a hand-fabricated sterling silver magnetic clasp.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Thistle” Necklace, 2016
European glass and sterling silver beads, hand-fabricated sterling silver armature.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Thistle” Brooches, 2015
European glass and sterling silver beads riveted and/or stitched to hand-fabricated sterling silver armatures.
Private Collections.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Thistle” Earrings, 2016
European glass, hand-fabricated sterling silver earring armatures.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Thistle” Brooch, 2016
European glass and sterling silver beads riveted and/or stitched to a hand-fabricated sterling silver brooch armature.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Lattice Necklace,” 2017
Beads of hand-dyed wood and sterling silver, hand-fabricated sterling silver armatures.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
“Lattice Necklace,” Detail
Beads of hand-dyed wood and sterling silver, hand-fabricated sterling silver armatures.
Private Collection.
Photo: Sanders Visual Images.
"Tank on a Tear," by Valerie Hector. Brooch of sterling silver hollow form elements; sterling silver beads; vintage European gilt plastic charms; vintage enameled metal badge from China's Cultural Revolution era; Chinese water caltrop seed pod beads.
"Bonfires at Kirti" by Valerie Hector. Brooch of sterling silver; vintage European gilt plastic charms; vintage enameled badges from China's Cultural Revolution era.
"Words to Starve By," by Valerie Hector. Brooch made of antique Chinese wood carving; sterling silver; vintage plastic badges from China's Cultural Revolution era.