Homage Jewelry
by Susan.
(Ohio)
I get my jewelry making inspiration by, well, looking at other jewelry.
There’s always something I do a little different from what I see – my own little touch to the idea.
Is it OK to sell these homages to more expensive jewelry? Can it be labeled as ‘a reworking of’, ‘my take on’, or ‘an homage to’ a specific work and/or designer?
Susan
Comments:
Selling “A Reworking of …” Jewelry
by: Rena
Hi Susan!
I know it can be fun to make your own versions of famous jewelry. If your creations are heavily inspired by the originals, you might just enjoy wearing them yourself.
But it’s not a good idea to sell items that are noticeably inspired by someone else’s work.
And I’d be especially careful not to refer to someone else’s original product in your sales and promotion.
Instead, what if you worked toward making your “inspired by” designs even more uniquely different from the originals?
thank you Rena
by: Susan
Rena,
Thank you for your advice. I felt pretty sure that it wouldn’t be a good idea to mention another designer while trying to sell my own jewelry… I was just a little confused since I see so many blogs about knock-off jewelry. Of course, those sites usually give you ideas for how to make them and not sell them yourself. But, I figured that I should seek advice from the experts.
Thanks again!
Inspired by
by: Carolyn Dargevics
I have one jewelry set — necklace, earrings, bracelet — that was inspired by something I saw on a celebrity. It doesn’t look anything like her piece but it made me think differently about what I wanted to create. In my on-line description, I say it was “inspired by ___.” We get our inspirations from anywhere; however, I might rethink using her name.
Homage Jewelry
by: Betty
Hi: I love the jewelry of Miriam Haskell. I don’t copy her work, but let it inspire me and use the beads I have on hand to make ‘flower’ components. I tell people that I like Miriam Haskell jewelry. I don’t consider my jewelry a copy of hers since I use totally different components, and I’ve developed my own wiring technique to combine the beads and the color combinations are mine. The only similarity is that I make flower components and use them in necklaces. Last week I was at a bead show in Florida, and saw similar flower components to mine, but they were put together differently. This person and I had not seen each other’s work, yet it was similar. Each of us was inspired by Miriam Haskell, but neither of us felt we copied her designs. What do you think?
Thanks
Betty Torma
Homage or Copying?
by: EcoBeads
Check yourself prior to selling something that “looks like” other artist’s work. You may find that artist at your next show. Or, worse yet, you may become known as the “Copy Queen!” Noooooooo!
Take some time to write down what it is that inspires you. Is it the wirework; the colors; stones… Then, make a few sketches or doodles, maybe adding some color. Use that inspiration to create something that is all yours. You will love it more and be so proud of your own designs.
Best of luck!
HISTORY HAD THE ANSWER
by: JANICE DANCE
If you look at art throughout the centuries you will see several artists styling is the same. In fact Brach and Picasso’s cubist period are virtually indistinguishable from each other. It is called ‘the school of..’ which ever artist. They often taught other artists. So all you are doing is ‘in the style of’ whichever jeweller. It is not plagerism or even imitation, if as you say, you were inspired by and not copying. I would actually use it as a marketing tool, writing up the ‘blurb’ on each peice with a little bit about the peice that inspired this peice and why.
Just food for thought
regards
Janice
