Metaphor

Metaphor (draft/un edited) Chapter 1

Metaphor

A metaphor is an expression used to describe an object as a something else such as a symbol or representation that possesses similar characteristics. I looked at using nature as a metaphor to create contemporary jewellery to describe my personal experiences.

In Celia Rabinovitch’s paper, Transformation of Metal into Metaphor, she speaks about how metaphor has made up a large part of many cultures throughout history.  In her paper, Celia mentions that: “In archaic cultures the alchemist, the smithy, and the artist were all of one fabric” and that they all had the; almost magical; ability to transform objects into completely different forms. Learning the knowledge behind these abilities extends beyond the knowledge present in “books and words” and these skills are only learned through practice and from knowledge passed down by skilled masters.

This ‘hidden’ ability of transformation has translated into a metaphor as “the first alchemists employed metals to perform a physical transformation of matter that effected a metaphorical alteration in the witness”. This has created a connection between making, matter and meaning, where objects that were handcrafted possessed metaphorical properties and deeper meanings, which is still present in creations made today. 

Metaphor

A metaphor is an expression used to describe an object as a something else such as a symbol or representation that possesses similar characteristics. I looked at using nature as a metaphor to create contemporary jewellery to describe my personal experiences.

In Celia Rabinovitch’s paper, Transformation of Metal into Metaphor, she speaks about how metaphor has made up a large part of many cultures throughout history.  In her paper, Celia mentions that: “In archaic cultures the alchemist, the smithy, and the artist were all of one fabric, their powers of transformation over the material world were revered and even feared by the rest of society” and that they all had the; almost magical; ability to transform objects into completely different forms. Learning the knowledge behind these abilities extends beyond the knowledge present in “books and words” and these skills are only learned through practice and from knowledge passed down by skilled masters.

This ‘unseen’ ability of smiths to turn rough nuggets of metal into magnificent items of jewellery has become metaphorical to creation and the unobserved processes of nature. “The first alchemists employed metals to perform a physical transformation of matter that effected a metaphorical alteration in the witness”.   This has created a connection between making, matter and meaning, where objects that were handcrafted possessed metaphorical properties and deeper meanings, which is still present in creations made today.