Danielle Miller grew up in a steel mill town in the Laurel Highlands of western Pennsylvania. Growing up surrounded by beautiful rolling hills juxtaposed by bridges, railroads, and industry greatly affected her design sensibility. When she was five years old, she announced to her parents that she was going to be an artist, and as a high school student discovered her passion for metals when she made a large-scale welded-steel sculpture.
Danielle Miller Flexible Marquis Pendant
A flexible multi-marquise drop in oxidized Sterling Silver with 18k Gold bail and free spinning 4mm cultured Freshwater Pearls. Lobster claw clasp on an omega chain.
Oxidized Silver with Gold Link (left) $390
Oxidized Silver (right) $240
Using Sterling Silver and 18k Gold with traditional jewelry making techniques, Danielle strives to create elegant and comfortable jewelry with a playful twist. Pearls or gemstone settings may spin like a propeller, slide freely across wires like an abacus, or rock to and fro like a see-saw.
Danielle Miller Geometric Bubble Set
Inspired by the effervescence of champagne, this pendant and earring set is a rich and playful combination of Sterling Silver, 18k Gold, colorful stones, and freely spinning Pearls. Pendant holds one 4-5mm cultured Freshwater Pearl, 4mm square Peridot and 3mm round faceted Blue Topaz. Omega chain with lobster clasp. Earrings contain one 3.5mm cultured Freshwater Pearl and 3mm faceted Blue Topaz with sterling silver posts.
Set: $435
At eighteen, Danielle Miller moved to Philadelphia to attend Moore College of Art and Design, intending to concentrate her studies on sculpture, but became entranced by jewelry making. She transferred to Tyler School of Art at Temple University for their renowned Jewelry/Metals Department, where she received a bachelor's degree in fine art.
Danielle Miller Mod Rocker Ring
Kinetic Sterling Silver ring. Stone slides freely back and forth along rocker cradle.
Available in (left to right) Blue Topaz, Garnet, or Peridot.
$235
After college, Danielle perfected her skills by working under a master goldsmith. During that time, she worked on her own designs at night and on weekends, and began selling her jewelry at craft shows. In 1998, she was finally able to devote herself full-time to her own business.
Artist Statement
Clean, simple geometric forms are the building blocks of my designs, which are inspired by architecture, machines, toys, and nature. By combining these seemingly different influences, I am exploring the concept of jewelry as a playful object.
My present work consists of jewelry with kinetic elements designed to attract and engage the attention of the wearer. These articulated parts rely on the action of the wearer for motion. This action can be a simple turn of the body or a deliberate manipulation of the movable parts.
This kinetic aspect of my work creates an intimate and unique relationship between the jewelry and the wearer. My jewelry, by definition, is not only an object of personal adornment but also an object of personal interaction and recreation.
I now make my home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina with my husband Ben Gilliam and our cats, Olivia and Fredo. Ben, also a metal artist, teaches at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities.See full article.
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