Samantha Maund is a practising chartered physiotherapist but returned to university graduating from Camberwell College of Arts in 2000.

In 2002 she and Jenifer Wall established Brass Monkeys Studio in Hove, East Sussex, which is now home to twelve independent makers and artists.

Sam's designs are influenced by physiology, of cells and their matrix, their repeated design and what lies within.

Sam works in base metals and silver producing a diverse range of bowls and jewellery. Techniques include raising, acid etching, piercing, soldering and patination, creating a unique textural finish. Each piece is made individually by hand. As such each is a one off, and any size or design can be made to commission.

Pieces are made for retail, exhibition and private commission

General information

The bowls are hand raised with a hammer over metal stakes, annealing them (heating to soften) regularly as the metal hardens when struck.

The etched designs are hand painted with a resist. The piece is immersed in nitric acid, which etches away any exposed metal.

The 3D jewellery is made from two pieces, each side is formed and etched separately and then soldered together.

The chains, which are silver, are also patinated to match the pendant colour. Different length chains, or unpatinated ones, can be supplied if necessary.

Cleaning

The dark patination / colour is created by applying a chemical which ages the metal by speeding up the oxidisation process. This is only a superficial patina.

The pieces can be cleaned gently with a soft cloth / soft wire wool or a small amount of brasso / silvo. The hollow jewellery can be cleaned with earbuds and a small amount of cleaner! Any unpatinated surface can be cleaned with Silver or Base metal polish.

If fully immersed in a cleaning fluid the patina may be removed entirely. If left the patina will continue to darken over time, adding to the depth of the surface texture.

If a bowl has a completely dark surface ( normally the underside) it will have been waxed. This should just be polished gently with a soft cloth. If Brasso or similar is used the patina may be removed.