Interview with Liam Hughes, Jewelry Artist Pique Assietto

My last blog covered the wonderful Trimborn Farm Arts and Crafts Show in Greendale, Wisconsin. It was at the 2007 show that I first saw some of Liam Hughes’ creations and thought they were incredible. So when I saw him at this show, I asked if he could spare some time to discuss his jewelry in more detail and would write an article about it for CQ. He agreed but quickly corrected me by saying his pieces are folk art, not jewelry or crafts.

The moment you start to talk with Liam, you realize that he has a great deal of enthusiasm; not just for his product but for life in general. His (very wise) father told him that whatever he chose to do in life would be fine with him as long as he promised to be passionate about his choice and enjoy it! And he has done his dad proud!

As a history and art major in college, he learned a lot about ceramic and china pieces. He told me that his products are not a “new-found’” art, but a very ancient form. He shared with me his knowledge of a practice in ancient Africa where graves were decorated with shards from the water vessels. Since these vessels would be associated with a certain family, you would be able to identify just who was buried at the site. Many cultures have put to good use pottery or china pieces that have been damaged or broken (recycling we call it today.) For example, the “Memory Jugs”, from Victorian times. These were containers covered with putty, then shards of broken table ware or vases were pressed into the substance and once completed would hold peacock feathers or cattails, often in the front hallway.

He had also studied the fabulous “mosaic house” in Chartres, France, called the Chartres Cathedral. It was the obsession of Raymond Isidore, starting in 1930, and he used adopted shards of pottery and china to cover every nook and cranny of the house and its interior. This magnificent structure is now a national treasure! He told me this craft is called pique assietto (if using glass, it would be mosaic.) The phrase is from the French language, loosely interpreted to be “stolen from a plate”, or “picked from a plate.”

Liam had seen a few examples of pique assietto, but those were china set into wood. He thought about it and realized he could do that. His choice of bezel is a lead-free silver alloy, very attractive indeed. The most amazing thing is that he is the only ‘artist’, it is strictly his creativity. He stated that his credo is to use only those pieces that are damaged beyond repair or collectibility – he does not destroy an item because it simply is chipped or stained. (My ephemera loving daughter would be proud of his commitment.)

He told me that he has an associate named Corey who is his graphic specialist, handling his web site, card design and also helps at shows. For larger shows, he even calls on his mom for assistance. And they will definitely be needed when he sets up at the fabulous Merchandise Mart Show in Chicago, Illinois December 3^rd, 4^th, and 5th. He is also quite proud of his ‘One Man Show” at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is November 19^th this year and he advised that he’s been preparing for that one for 8 months. January, February and March are spent at shows in Arizona and California.

His Lamplighter Studio website is quite successful and he now has over 2,000 people on his mailing list. He sells primarily to customers in the US, but has sold internationally as well. His prices are quite reasonable for a one-of-a-kind piece, typically in the $30-50 range. Liam told me he loves to do “commission pieces” and gave a few examples. He made 3 pins from a single plate that was to be in a grandmother’s estate. She took a photo of each of the children with the plate, then had Liam make pins from it, one for each child. This was a lovely way to pass on an heirloom. He also told of a lady who had a portion of her grandfather’s baby cup made into a pendant. What a charming idea!

I asked Liam where he bought his china plates and he told me he has found many of them in trips to thrift stores, antique malls, auctions, rummages or estate sales. He has even professed to finding some real “scores” at dump sites or even along the road. As you can imagine, he has a fantastic collection of plates that he displays in his home as well as in his cottage in Ireland. He has turned the cottage into a bed and breakfast and spends his summers there, giving tours and hunting for more treasures throughout Europe.

He takes a lot of time to research and identify the maker, country and pattern of the china. He then places the pins and pendants on cards with their “provenance” printed on the back. You get a little bit of history with each one. Liam uses advise from his mother and sister as far as design goes and the ‘feminine side.’ They remind him to make varying sizes and shapes, since not all wearers appreciate large, dramatic items. He gave me some insight into the difficulty each type of material can present. For example, Lenox plates are very hard, almost like stone, while Limoge porcelains are brittle and hard to work with. I can certainly appreciate the amount of trial and error it would take to be successful.

I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Liam and learning about the history of his product, and look forward to attending his One Man Show in November. I must remind hubby that Christmas is just around the corner.