Jewelry comes in a wide variety of types and styles, depending on the time period and country of origin. Simple pieces can have elaborate designs. Complex pieces can have simple designs. Likewise, there are two main areas in jewelry production: 1) Creation Processes (Annealing, Filing, Sawing, Pickling, Piercing, Soldering, Casting, Mounting, Polishing, etc.) and 2) Decorative Processes (Chasing, Repousse, Enameling, Stone Setting, Carving, Wire Work, etc.). One area can be more complex than the other. Take all elements and areas into consideration when judging. A piece should not be counted down merely because of simple design.
- Identification/Description of the entry.
- Approximate date and place/nationality in history that the entry is modeled upon.
- Lists use(s) of the entry.
- Cites at least one reference, either illustrative (pictures) or descriptive, relating to either A) period use of such item OR B) period method of constructing such item OR C) both A & B.
- Entry is appropriate to time/place stated in documentation.
- Materials used are period OR give period effect.
- Methods/Procedures used are period OR give period effect.
- Style, pattern, design and finished product are consistent with one another and give period effect.
- Complexity of the medium(s) being worked in (difficulties of materials used).
- Number and variety of composition elements (layout, proportion, balance, color, etc.).
- Intricacy of creating design in size/scale utilized in the entry. (Remember that all sizes are difficult because in small scale it is difficult to get details and in large scale, any minor flaw shows noticeably.)
- Number and variety of design elements (decorative motifs, figures, stones, spacers, different types of metals).
- Difficulty and variety of techniques attempted (annealing, filing, sawing, pickling, piercing, soldering, casting, mounting, polishing, chasing, repousse, enameling, stone setting, carving, wire work, etc.).
- Amount of time involved, including research and material preparation.
- Attention to details, neatness and finishing touches.
- Ability of entry to serve intended function.
- Choice of materials.
- Durability of the item (able to survive wear/usage).
- Mastery of period style and practice.
- 1:Poor technique/style/work.
- 2:Reasonable work, but materials and skills are greatly inconsistent with intended use.
- 3:Good work, materials and skills are somewhat inconsistent with intended use.
- 4:Good work, materials and skills are minorly inconsistent with intended use.
- 5:Excellent work, materials and skills are very well suited for intended use.
- 1:Project is NOT logical to context of period.
- 2:Project fits the context of period, but an adequate understanding of the item being created is missing.
- 3:Project is a logical combination of a few copied elements.
- 4:Project has evidence of original work that is logical to period context, in design or execution.
- 5:Project has creative interpolation in combination of elements; special consideration such as personalization to an event, individual, idea OR is an exact reproduction of a period item.
- 6:Project is a combination of elements and materials that is logical to a single period context; might have been done by a creative period artist.
NOTE: This category is subjective; however, the judge should take into account prior category scores, aesthetic appeal, presentation, and other such items not previously addressed. Keep in mind that this entry is at Novice Level, regardless of the skill of the entrant.
DOCUMENTATION (0-4 points)Must have at least a 1 page, 2-3 pages preferable. More is acceptable. Give one point for each of the following that is present:
- Identification/Description of the entry and the approximate date and place/nationality in history that the entry is modeled upon.
- Statement or listing of materials used in entry's construction and use(s) of the entry.
- Describes method(s) used to create entry (may include reasons for why a certain process or material was used).
- Cites at least two references, either illustrative (pictures) or descriptive, relating to either A) period use of such item OR B) period method of constructing such item OR C) both A & B.
- Entry is appropriate to time/place stated in documentation.
- Materials used are period OR give period effect.
- Methods/Procedures used are period OR give period effect.
- Style, pattern, design and finished product are consistent with one another and give period effect.
- Complexity of the medium(s) being worked in (difficulties of materials used).
- Number and variety of composition elements (layout, proportion, balance, color, etc.).
- Intricacy of creating design in size/scale utilized in the entry. (Remember that all sizes are difficult because in small scale it is difficult to get details and in large scale, any minor flaw shows noticeably.)
- Number and variety of design elements (decorative motifs, figures, stones, spacers, different types of metals).
- Difficulty and variety of techniques attempted (annealing, filing, sawing, pickling, piercing, soldering, casting, mounting, polishing, chasing, repousse, enameling, stone setting, carving, wire work, etc.).
- Amount of time involved, including research and material preparation.
- Attention to details, neatness and finishing touches.
- Ability of entry to serve intended function.
- Choice of materials.
- Durability of the item (able to survive wear/usage).
- Mastery of period style and practice.
- 1:Poor technique/style/work.
- 2:Reasonable work, but materials and skills are greatly inconsistent with intended use.
- 3:Good work, materials and skills are somewhat inconsistent with intended use.
- 4:Good work, materials and skills are minorly inconsistent with intended use.
- 5:Excellent work, material and skills are very well suited for intended use.
- 1:Project is a logical combination of a few copied elements.
- 2:Project has evidence of original work that is logical to period context, in design or execution.
- 3:Project has creative interpolation in combination of elements; special consideration such as personalization to an event, individual, idea OR is an exact reproduction of a period item.
- 4:Project is a combination of elements and materials that is logical to a single period context; might have been done by a creative period artist.
NOTE: This category is subjective; however, the judge should take into account prior category scores, aesthetic appeal, presentation, and other such items not previously addressed. Keep in mind that this entry is at Intermediate Level, regardless of the skill of the entrant.
DOCUMENTATION (0-4 points)Must have at least 3 pages of discussion (NOT including visuals and bibliography). More is acceptable. Give score based on the following:
- 0:No documentation or very inaccurate documentation.
- 1:Minimum information only (Identification/Description of the entry, approximate date in history of entry, place/nationality/origin of the entry).
- 2:Has all info listed for 1 point plus cites at least two references, either illustrative (pictures) or descriptive, relating to either A) period use of such item OR B) period method of constructing such item OR C) both A & B.
- 3:Has all the info listed for 2 points plus a listing of materials and tools used in entry's construction.
- 4:Has all the info listed for 3 points plus discussion of method(s) used to create entry, with additional discussion of period practice and rationale/explanation/discussion of any variation from period norm and/or original experiments/research.
- Entry is appropriate to time/place stated in documentation.
- Materials used are period OR give period effect.
- Methods/Procedures used are period OR give period effect.
- Style, pattern, design and finished product are consistent with one another and give period effect.
- Complexity of the medium(s) being worked in (difficulties of materials used).
- Number and variety of composition elements (layout, proportion, balance, color, etc.).
- Intricacy of creating design in size/scale utilized in the entry. (Remember that all sizes are difficult because in small scale it is difficult to get details and in large scale, any minor flaw shows noticeably.)
- Number and variety of design elements (decorative motifs, figures, stones, spacers, different types of metals).
- Difficulty and variety of techniques attempted (annealing, filing, sawing, pickling, piercing, soldering, casting, mounting, polishing chasing, repousse, enameling, stone setting, carving, wire work, etc.).
- Amount of time involved, including research and material preparation.
- Attention to details, neatness and finishing touches.
- Ability of entry to serve intended function.
- Choice of materials.
- Durability of the item (able to survive wear/usage).
- Mastery of period style and practice.
- 0:Poor technique/style/work, plus entry is not suited at all for its intended use.
- 1:Poor technique/style/work.
- 2:Reasonable work, but materials and skills are extremely inconsistent with intended use.
- 3:Reasonable work, but materials and skills are greatly inconsistent with intended use.
- 4:Good work, materials and skills are somewhat inconsistent with intended use.
- 5:Good work, materials and skills are minorly inconsistent with intended use.
- 6:Excellent work, material and skills are very well suited for intended use.
- 0:Project is NOT logical to context of period.
- 1:Project is a logical combination of a few copied elements.
- 2:Project has evidence of original work that is logical to period context, in design or execution.
- 3:Project has creative interpolation in combination of elements; special consideration such as personalization to an event, individual, idea OR is an exact reproduction of a period item.
- 4:Project is a combination of elements and materials that is logical to a single period context; might have been done by a creative period artist.
NOTE: This category is subjective; however, the judge should take into account prior category scores, aesthetic appeal, presentation and other such items not previously addressed. Keep in mind that this entry is at Advanced Level, regardless of the skill of the entrant.