Barbara Acton-Bond

Surrounded by an abundance of boxes brimming over with stones, jades and pearls in every imaginable colour, and sat in a comfy old chair that has claimed one corner, is where you will find Barbara Acton-Bond devotedly stringing together what will be a beautiful, individual necklace.

Every piece receives overwhelming dedication, and each is designed with a great deal of love and imagination in the hope that someone will understand and appreciate it. A necklace will usually take between two and three days to make, but if Barbara is not happy with the way it lays or with its design, she will begin again and again until it is right. Barbara’s unique collection of handmade necklaces has caught the attention of not just fashionable women after something a little different, but also of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Fortnum and Mason, and Liberty.

Barbara explains: “I decided to seek out the buyer at the Victoria and Albert Museum. I walked in wearing one of my necklaces and to my delight she was terribly excited and began stocking me. I decided to do the same thing with Fortnum and Mason’s, and again, they loved what I was wearing and asked me to bring in a number of pieces. Then I was selling there, along with Liberty’s.”

Barbara’s story doesn’t start in the UK. Born near New York and brought up in San Francisco, the jewellery-maker is trained in art history and started out in a very different field – producing, writing and presenting a TV show in the USA. The format involved interviewing either well-known people or other interesting characters about their love of art and antiques, as well as explaining how to use such items in the home. Despite the programme proving popular with audiences, she decided that journalism would be her next step in life, wanting to write about art and interview artists, writers and dancers: “Having had no experience in journalism, I nevertheless convinced an international newspaper that I could produce what was required. They hired me and I then learned on the job.”

It wasn’t until Barbara and her three young children made the move to Hong Kong years later, just as extraordinary pottery figures were creeping into the antiques market from across the border in China, that she immersed herself in understanding ancient Chinese antiques. Barbara began collecting pieces, referring tourists to safe shops and teaching them about the various historic periods. As well as sharing her knowledge with others, Barbara was so inspired by her surroundings that she decided to experiment: “I saw all these wonderful stones and pieces of jade and I decided I would try my hand at making a Chinese court necklace with a contemporary twist. Basically, I taught myself.”

Barbara was captivated by the calmness that the pieces evoked, the attention to detail, the colours and the materials. She began playing with various designs and combinations, and worked on designs for about six months before producing a number of necklaces. Barbara’s experiences in Hong Kong changed her life, and this fierce passion has remained with her ever since: “I am attracted to symbolism and stories associated with Chinese jade. The fact that a pendant actually tells a story and has meaning – and that the symbolism transfers to the wearer.

“I enjoy taking old pieces and mixing them with wonderful stones, colours, shapes and carvings, and adding these with hand-blown glass from China or Venice and then using handmade Fairtrade Thai silver from the Karen Hill tribes, or with vintage Afghan gold on handmade resin. Or even English antique pendants, Victorian garnets, Georgian enamel and Art Nouveau silver.”

Having now settled in a London studio near the River Thames, Barbara is still constantly inspired. The design of a necklace can be influenced from art, the past, nature, or just from spotting an appealing colour combination along the riverside. It is also the enthusiasm and admiration surrounding her work that drives her to push forward. Customers have referred to the necklaces as works of art and they receive enormous compliments wherever they go. Clients select colours and styles that flatter them and then pick clothes to make the perfect backdrop for their chosen piece. There are some people who own as many as 45 necklaces!

Barbara also mentions how they become statement necklaces but never overwhelm the wearer, and how sometimes, a piece of jewellery can give more than just style: “One client told me that she wore one of my necklaces when she went into hospital as it comforted her and made her feel more attractive. I have so many stories and this is what pushes me on.”

Sometimes, being the only one in the business and juggling a family of three children (albeit in their 20s) can be tricky. Barbara is responsible for doing the buying, designing, making, writing descriptions, labelling, photographing, updating her website and selling – although having a very supportive and appreciative husband helps hugely. Barbara also has the assistance of a lovely lady who does the knotting and works as a sort of quality control officer – making sure that no beads have been left out of a design.

Barbara continues: “I have a very full life and it is very time consuming, but I take each day as it comes, enjoying the moment and trying to both compartmentalise and integrate my work and life.

“Frankly, I feel very fortunate and surprised at how things have developed. I love what I am doing and I imagine that is reflected in what I produce and how I function in my daily routine.”

Barbara will be at the Spirit of Summer Fair on May 14th – 17th at Olympia in London. The British Museum also stocks her work, as does her website www.barbara-acton-bond.com/. Appointments are available for those interested in trying on Barbara’s jewellery.

Copyrights to the Cream Club.