JOKE SCHOLE

Today we stand inside a climate-controlled glasshouse of The Hortus Botanicus (Botanical Garden) in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

We venture inside the Butterfly Greenhouse where, in addition to cocoa trees, we also see, what else, butterflies. Amsterdam is also the home of featured jewelry designer Joke Schole.


The beauty of childhood is its innocence, unbridled joy, and ease to love. To me, Schole's beautifully crafted, fanciful, porcelain-made jewelry evokes this wonderful, fun-loving period of life.

A graduate of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie of Art, Schole pursued a career as an interior designer working for, among others, Macy's New York, Judscott, and Ploegstoffen. For six years, she also taught interior and fashion design at Amsterdam's Vogue Academy.

Constantly experimenting with various textiles and colors, Schole also creates handbags, and paintings in addition to her one-of-a-kind contemporary jewelry.

Her jewelry creations can definitely induce a smile, but Schole's bigger motivation is to encourage conversation. "I wish to challenge the viewer/person that is wearing it to start a conversation," she says. "For example on the necklace `Your task, Mrs. Lambfawn, is to tell them about the Art of Peace' is an instrument from which peace can be discussed."

Her humorous, thought provoking jewelry also addresses phenomenon such as global warming and dogs carried around in their owner's shoulder bags.

Aside from porcelain, Schole uses glass beads, gold plating, galvanized copper, semi-precious gemstones, and hand painting to bring her storied creations to life.

The combination of bold color and capricious design along with cleverly insinuated messages is delightfully quirky and adorable. These make fantastic novelty pieces.
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Photo 1 (top right): Porcelain Brooch with Pearls and Coral
Photo 2 (bottom left): Your task, Mrs. Lambfawn is to tell them about the Art of Peace Porcelain Necklace with Pearls and Coral