Renée Frances
Renée Frances makes it look easy. Her playful and surprising designs belie the intricate techniques and careful thought that go into each piece. The Lady Rings, the silver Feather Earrings, the multiple colors of the Ten Speed necklaces, remind us that elegance can have a sense of humor.
Dragged round the country by her parents enthusiastic pursuit of antiques, Renée developed a laser-like eye for finding the most extraordinary object in the clutter of a house auction or in the midst of trash picking.
Other than writing a paper for a folklore class on the significance of jewelry, her psychology degree at University of Pennsylvania left her little grounding in jewelry design. But after taking a studio class in stained glass, Renée learnt how to solder and fuse glass, producing her first glass jewelry pieces.
A strong believer that you should know how to make something before putting pen to paper for ambitious designs, Renée continued to take a range of classes becoming skilled in silver and goldsmithing, enameling, wax carving and gemstone setting. Reviving forgotten techniques like champlevé, where a design is carved into the surface of a metal object then filled with enamel, Renée uses champlevé to apply bold colors to her designs in a distinctive way.
Renée Frances designs reflect influences from unexpected places. Her Lady Rings evolved out a fascination with vintage fashion patterns, capturing the most vital elements to create the silhouette, updating it with vibrant colors. Renée Frances creates a daring new aesthetic with her distinctive designs.
"I would hope that someone who discovers my designs feel as if they have found a couture dress in a thrift store, something they would treasure." Renée Frances Kopec | 
