Who are you?
Mausi Herold. I’ve always been Mausi – my parents are to blame.
Where are you from?
I was born near Hamburg, but I am half scottish, half german and moved to the UK at 16.
What do you do?
I started Heroldian Jewellery a bit over a year ago, while I was writing my Master thesis in History of Art. I make jewellery out of Antique objects that I collect from all over the world and I have also just started making other accessories such as revamping vintage hats with antique trimmings and natural feathers that I get from the Scottish Highlands.
Your style in 3 words?
One word: Heroldian.
What is your weakness?
I am very easily lead astray. Or maybe I lead astray…
What is your strength?
Being positive.
What did you dream of becoming as a child?
Anything that involved a stage.
What makes you different?
I’ll quote my friend Erica on this: “What makes you unique is your extravagant sense of aesthetics. You are like a little dream, like a creature that belongs in a bewitched forrest.”
A few words about your work?
My works constantly reinvents itself- I take items from the past and find a relevancy for them today. There are too many beautifully handcrafted antique objects that seem to have lost their appreciation. A brooch for example is such an item. Not many young people wear them nowadays, but by showing how to wear a brooch today, or remodelling it so it becomes a pendant, I make it present. I therefore purposely chose a brooch for the cover of my next catalogue. I also take the pictures myself – I feel as though they are part of my work.
What inspires you?
I could write an essay on what inspires me, but here a few examples: a picture of my great-grandmother inspired my “Collar Collection”, an Old Master portrait painting of a gentleman inspired another necklace of mine, I made this whole range of accessories that were influenced by fly fishing and hunting, which evolved during a drive through the north of Scotland. A lot of my inspiration comes from tradition, which I am very fond of.
How do you face uncertainties?
Friends, family, food and let’s face it… alcohol. (dancing with myself)
Any new project coming up, you want to tell us about?
Well, my Spring/Summer 2013 Lookbook is coming out very soon, which I am excited about. I will send you a copy once it’s here. Apart from that I have started on another line of utilitarian pendants- this time I am gathering antique writing tools for all the creative people out there who do not leave the house without a pen.
