Ours is an age of mass production. Big chain companies stock their stores with identical items, which are produced cookie-cutter style by machines in factories. No industry has been left untouched, even jewelry. What was once left to the skilled craftsmanship of artisans is now largely industrialized. In effect, jewelry-making has been transformed from an art to a science.
Stretching back thousands of years, artisan jewelry making has a long history. Now that handcrafting is no longer the norm, unique pieces of jewelry are highly prized for their beauty and originality, which contrasts starkly with the uninspired carbon copy jewels sold in the average shopping mall. Though it is difficult to define what “art” is, it can be thought of, generally speaking, as a work created with intention, aesthetic awareness, and the potential to stimulate thoughts and emotion. Despite the prevalence of mass produced items and retail chains, there are still a select few who use their artistry in the service of jewelry making. Teresa Saputo is one of these people.