Glass Pendant & Chain w/Gold Plate, Jacob Hull, c. 1970's for Buch & Diechmann courtesy of eveMODERN on Etsy
I first became enamored of Jacob Hull's jewelry years ago while studying jewelry design and silversmithing. Hull's jewelry, from 1970's Denmark, was a real eye opener to me! It was so muscular, visceral, unapologetic, without fear. Stones were not small, polished accompaniments sitting passively in their bezel. They were crazy, rough and in command of a piece- held to a simple, hammered cuff, choker or ring by liquid metal- mercurial & magic.
Hammered Silver Plate Cuff with Amethyst, c. 1970's courtesy of eveMODERN on Etsy
Hammered Silver Plate Choker with Amethyst, c. 1970's
Sterling Silver Pendant and Choker, c. 1970's studio piece
Hull also designed with glass and metal, like brutal sculptures laid over poured glass disks. How did they not break in manufacture? To this day, I am not quite sure how he did it.
Silver Plated Cuff with Glass Disk, c. 1970's courtesy of eveMODERN on Etsy
Silver Plated Cuff with Glass Disk, c. 1970's courtesy of eveMODERN on Etsy
Silver Plated Ring with Glass Disk, c. 1970's courtesy of eveMODERN on Etsy
Glass Pendant with Choker, Silver & Gold Plating, c. 1970's courtesy of eveMODERN on Etsy
Glass Pendant with Choker (detail), Silver & Gold Plating, c. 1970's courtesy of eveMODERN on Etsy
Hull designed one-off jewelry in sterling at his studio, and also limited run silver and gold plated pieces produced by Buch & Diechmann. Those B+D pieces were sold in the high end Danish department store called Illums Boligus. Hull was very careful about his designs and knew that they were being copied. His jewelry is always hand signed or stamped with his name.
Aventurine Pendant (detail) with Silver Neck Ring, c. 1970's, originally purchased@ Illums Boligus, courtesy of eveMODERN on Etsy
From all accounts, Jacob Hull was a restless soul who was well traveled, exhibited his jewelry internationally, and lived in several countries. Hull was also an accomplished sculptor who was accepted to Kunsthal Charlottenborg in Denmark.
Jacob Hull finally settled down on the Peninsula of Djursland in Jutland, Denmark. In 1993 his home caught fire. Hull was pulled from the blaze, but ran back into the flames to rescue a beloved vintage car and, tragically, was killed.
Sadly, not much more in known about Jacob Hull in the US. I think I will make a pilgrimmage to Denmark someday to seek out more information about this remarkable artist whose work was like his character- fearless...
Jacob Hull signature, c. 1970's courtesy of eveMODERN on Etsy