An 18K yellow gold bracelet, LAPPONIA

This very wide, textured, deeply rich-yellow gold bracelet is made up of seven panels with a hidden push clasp within the eighth panel.

The clasp stamped 750, Finland, Q7 for 1969 and BW for Björn Weckström.

128.1 grams, 19cm long x 3.5cm wide.

Björn Weckström and LAPPONIA are staple names in mid-century jewellery but to have such a wide and large bracelet is very unique.

Biography

Born Finland, 1935.

Although he longed to be a sculptor, Weckström attended the Goldsmith's school instead from which he graduated in 1956.

 Following his graduation Weckström took a loan from his family in order to buy his first workshop in Helsinki, and set to work making bold clean Scandinavian forms at first but quicky thereafter, in the 60s, found his own bold and sculptural ground-breaking style that would never leave him.

 His inspiration often comes from nature seen in his silver jewellery portraying the Finnish snowy winters, for example.

In 1963 a collaboration led to the founding of Lapponia Jewelery of which Weckstom becomes the company’s designer and art director.

 In 1965 Weckström took part in the International Jewellery contest in Rio de Janeiro winning the Grand Prix with his necklace “Flowering Wall” launching Lapponia’s international success.

 His designs have been in continuous production with Lapponia ever since and Weckstrom continues to work in jewellery and sculpture.