A proper brew with Alice Clarke
Launching ‘Yorkshire tea’ signet rings at Gold Lark Jewellery. We met with Alice to discover how she was inspired to pay homage to the nations favourite tea and the rolling hills of home to create a signet ring for Yorkshire. Now available in the gallery in silver and gold with customised engraving.
Welcome Alice, firstly we must know how do you like to take your tea?
Hello! Well, I like it brewed in a metal tea pot for about 4 minutes, then poured into a china cup with a good splash of milk. Delicious!
Alice, you've returned to your home county of Yorkshire after spending time in the Falkland Islands. How does it feel to be back and has this return influenced your creative process?
It’s absolutely amazing to be home! Back in gods own country. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved being away (far away) but after 7 years I had a calling to come home. I missed the patchwork quilt of Nidderdale and the seasons. I’m continuously inspired by my rural surroundings so naturally and unexpectedly I’ve created and launched a new collection of work inspired by my Yorkshire since being back. Whether that be the gentry charm, the colours of the landscape or the new found appreciation for the sheer beauty of the dales.
Your decision to texture your new signet rings with Yorkshire Tea is wonderfully unique. What was it about Yorkshire Tea, specifically, that sparked your inspiration and made you want to incorporate it into fine jewellery?
How could I not!! It runs in my veins. It’s actually a process i developed and explored while at uni. And one I’ve kept close to my heart since. I love textured jewellery, especially in gold, it stirs up emotions of ancient jewellery and lost treasures from time gone by. And loose Yorkshire tea has such a beautiful texture dry and wet. So my creative brain took this to the bench and began exploring.
The Gold Lark collection often features narratives and personal connections. Beyond the material itself, what story or sentiment do you hope to convey to the wearers of these special Yorkshire Tea signet rings?
I feel like Yorkshire folk just LOVE being from Yorkshire and we’re very passionate about our beautiful, friendly country. Jewellery in my eyes is a talisman. It captures not only my energy I put into it when I’m manipulating the metal but the energy and stories of it being handled by the new owner. As soon as it’s on the body it begins its new life and holds such sentiment and an unmatched value. Capturing this in metal, holds these thoughts, feeling, that moment in time with you forever.
If I have a flask of tea ready, where would you show me to sit and drink tea in Yorkshire?
Oh heavens above - Brimham Rocks. It’s basically my back garden. I love it up there; there’s a really special rock which I like to sit on and look out over the dale while the sun sets. I’m definitely an old romantic and a mug of warm tea looking out across the land ~ nothing compares.