Hamer Hammers

About Me

My name is Arthur Hamer, and I graduated from the NSCAD University in June 2026, with a degree in Jewellery Design and Metalsmithing. While I chose jewellery-making because I have always loved working with my hands to create art, I discovered that I also loved using Rhino3D modelling software. Unlike many of my peers, whose love of art comes at the exclusion of working with computers, I appreciate the precision and detail that comes from a computer program and learned as much about Rhino3D as I could.

Back of woman's head showing a hairpin that looks like a sword. — My inspiration for this hairpin was the rapier sword.
Silver. Modeled in Rhino3D and cast. March 2025. Click here for close ups.

In spring 2025, I designed a series of hairpins focused on my struggle with trichotillomania. My goal was to turn emotions, particularly negative emotions, into beautiful objects. I researched weaponry focusing on medieval European weapons. The weaponry signifies strength, and hope is invested in the choice of hairpins, as the longer my hair grows, the more securely the pins will hold.

Back of woman's head showing a hairpin that looks like a tiny battle axe. — Battle axe hairpin.

Silver, Black Walnut. Modeled in Rhino3D and cast. March 2025. Click here for close up.

Back of woman's head showing hairpins that looks flails, ie medieval weapons. — Flail hairpin.

Silver. Modeled in Rhino3D and cast. March 2025. Click here for close up.

Jewellery set of earrings, a broach and a ring that look like silver pea pods. — This set – earrings, broach, and butterfly ring – is my take on pea pods in a garden.

Fold-formed silver and soldered copper balls. December 2023.

I then altered the pea pod earrings, replacing the copper balls with freshwater pearls.

Fold-formed silver and freshwater pearls. December 2023.

I designed and hand fabricated these wedding rings for my sister and her husband.

18k gold. April 2025.

This piece was inspired by Gee’s Bend quilts, so I used scrap metal and found buttons. Made of 3 separate pieces riveted together.

Silver, buttons. November 2024.

Earrings.

Silver and London blue topaz. February 2024.

I made hand-cut jump rings to create a byzantine-style chain bracelet.

Silver. January 2022.

The assignment was to create a locker. But rather than jewellery, I made a small representation of a school locker. Classmates wrote their high school traumas on tiny scraps of paper. The door opens enough to allow paper to slip inside, but doesn’t let anything be retrieved. Even then, the locker doesn’t keep those traumas; when heated, the papers burn and smoke rises through the seams, carrying the past away.