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PAGE 41 SATURDAY. MARCH 10. 2012 Carve out your own niche … … but leave <strong>the</strong> actual gem carving <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> experts! Some gem artists look at a piece of rough and see an image of what could be created, while o<strong>the</strong>rs have something in mind and find <strong>the</strong> rough <strong>to</strong> create it. Two of BASELWORLD’s most prolific and incredibly talented gem artists, Manfred Wild, of Emil Becker (3.0, K30) and Stefan Klein, of Herbert Klein (3.1, L11) are some of <strong>the</strong> finest examples of those who use <strong>the</strong>se methods <strong>to</strong> create <strong>the</strong>ir art. And wow, what gems<strong>to</strong>ne art <strong>the</strong>y create! Wild focuses on large objets d’art, with possible removable jewellery pieces, while Klein focuses on <strong>the</strong> jewellery pieces with separate objets d’art. Both have an incredible talent for creating detailed works of art, with an eye for colour and design. And <strong>the</strong> materials that <strong>the</strong>y use could have been used for standard cut gems<strong>to</strong>ne set jewellery, but choose not <strong>to</strong> use it in that fashion. A fabulous suite of amethyst flowers with mandarin garnet leaves, by Herbert Klein. Here is our Blue Emperor fish, a 274.97 carat tanzanite, with <strong>the</strong> bass, 285.66 carats of yellow beryl, by Emil Becker. “I see something in <strong>the</strong> crystal,” notes Wild as we stare at one of <strong>the</strong> many magnificent objets d’art at his stand in <strong>the</strong> rear of Wild & Petsch, gem cutters from Idar-Oberstein. “You could put myself and my cousin in front of <strong>the</strong> same piece of rough crystal, and he will be thinking ‘How many 8 by 10 ovals can we make from this?’ and I will be seeing <strong>the</strong> breast of a pheasant, or something like that.” He laughs. “Each piece we create has its own s<strong>to</strong>ry,” says Wild. “This one, <strong>the</strong> Ice Princess, made of aquamarine and rock crystal quartz, has a s<strong>to</strong>ry.” And he proceeds <strong>to</strong> show us <strong>the</strong> icy crystal-like inclusions in <strong>the</strong> quartz and how <strong>the</strong> 18 karat gold and diamonds ice crystals mimic <strong>the</strong> inclusions. The sculpture on <strong>the</strong> reverse has retained <strong>the</strong> original rough skin, while <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>p, a gold accented carving of <strong>the</strong> princess’s head, is removable and can be worn as a beautiful aquamarine pendant. Wild directs our attention next <strong>to</strong> a pair of gem carved fish, swimming amongst red coral on a sea of included quartz. “Look at that fish,” as he points <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> 274.97 carat carved tanzanite. “We actually had a beautiful long slender tanzanite crystal, and I saw a fish inside <strong>the</strong> crystal. So we were looking <strong>to</strong> find a real fish that was of that colour. And we found one. It is called <strong>the</strong> Blue Emperor from <strong>the</strong> Malawi Sea. And it looks just like that!” If you think that this is amazing that he The aquamarine Ice Princess castle, complete with 18 karat and diamond ice crystals and prin- cess pendant, by Emil Becker. would take a larger than 275 carat tanzanite crystal and carve it in<strong>to</strong> a fish, <strong>the</strong>n realize that this is only one fish in <strong>the</strong> sea of gemcarved fish at his stand. Below <strong>the</strong> tanzanite Blue Emperor fish is a Coloured Bass, created in 285.66 carats of yellow beryl. Looking for rough Speaking with Gabi Klein of Herbert Klein, who, <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with her bro<strong>the</strong>r Stefan is co-president of <strong>the</strong> company, tells us that <strong>the</strong>y typically will have an order for something and <strong>the</strong>n go looking for a specific piece of rough. It’s important not only <strong>to</strong> look for <strong>the</strong> best quality gem material but for <strong>the</strong> right size and shape. “In any carving, we can have as much as 70 <strong>to</strong> 80% loss,” says Klein. “Of course, with obsidian, we do not worry so much about that,” motioning <strong>to</strong> an obsidian gorilla, and noting that <strong>the</strong>y can pretty much slice up a larger, and relatively less expensive piece of obsidian in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> right size. But a nice piece of rock crystal, for example, can turn out <strong>to</strong> be a pricey sculpture, because it’s no longer cheap, and you can’t just go chopping up a larger crystal in<strong>to</strong> two smaller ones. “If you carve an elephant, you lose a lot of material for <strong>the</strong> four legs as well as carving <strong>the</strong> elephant with its trunk up.” You carve <strong>the</strong> trunk up for good luck. In <strong>the</strong> showcases at Klein were flowers created from faceting quality tanzanite, peridot, rubelite <strong>to</strong>urmaline, amethyst, mandarin garnet, aquamarine, and yellow beryl. “The hedgehog is made from cabochon quality amethyst,” noted Klein. How much is that doggy in <strong>the</strong> window? Made from rock crystal quartz, with aquamarine nose, sit- ting on a citrine pillow accented by 18 karat gold., by Herbert Klein. Our little hamster is made from agate, with 18 karat gold whiskers – very cute! By Herbert Klein. Aquamarine flowers with green <strong>to</strong>urmaline leaves, by Herbert Klein. What it takes <strong>to</strong> be creative “We are a small workshop,” says Wild. “Basically, we have a cutter, a carver, a goldsmith, and someone <strong>to</strong> do enameling. We have a specialist <strong>to</strong> hollow out a crystal, as well as a cameo expert, a maximum of ten people,” noted Wild. “When we create a piece, we always think about everything, from <strong>the</strong> rough all <strong>the</strong> way up <strong>to</strong> packaging and shipping.” “It’s Stefan and just one o<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> shop,” notes Klein. Klein and Wild are great ambassadors for <strong>the</strong>ir craft and for <strong>the</strong> industry. The gem materi- GEMSTONES als are of fine quality, and <strong>the</strong>ir creations are superb. They are more than willing <strong>to</strong> spend <strong>the</strong> time <strong>to</strong> show you what <strong>the</strong>y have done, what <strong>the</strong>y can do, and why <strong>the</strong>y created it <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong>y did. They love <strong>to</strong> share. After all, as Wild puts it, “each one has a s<strong>to</strong>ry.” (gr) n This magnificent chimpanzee is made from black obsidian, rhodonite <strong>to</strong>ngue, chalcedony teeth, and reverse painted citrine eyes, by Herbert Klein. A ruby orchid, by Herbert Klein.