Theo Fennell launches scrimshaw pearls collection

Theo Fennell has collaborated on a collection of four one-of-a-kind pearl designs with Central St Martins graduate Tabitha Charlton featuring the ancient technique of scrimshaw.

As part of his ongoing Gilded Youth initiative, Fennell invited Charlton to collaborate on a series of designs.

The four 18ct gold and pearl pieces feature Charlton’s hand-engraved scrimshaw and have been created in Theo’s on-site workshop by his team of expert craftsmen. They are available now at the Theo Fennell flagship store in London’s Chelsea Barracks.

Fennel first discovered Charlton’s final work entitled ‘My World is Your Oyster’ at the Central St Martins’ end of year show in June 2022 and was impressed by her “innovative” use of scrimshaw, the traditional whalers’ technique of carving artwork into bone or ivory.

Fennell said: “Scrimshaw, the very word conjures up the romance of the sea, the days of endless journeys to theNew World when skilful sailors would spend their time engraving narwhal tusks and whale teeth. It is an art that seemed all but lost but last year, judging the students at Central St Martins, we saw a sumptuous necklace of oyster-shells engraved with fabulous scrimshaw images.

“The talented artist who had made the piece was Tabitha Charlton. I asked her if she would be interested in a joint project and the work you see here are the first four pieces from this collaboration. Tabitha has worked her magic on the pearls and we have added the mounts to them. Each piece is unique and made by hand, what Tabitha has done is a joyous way to bring an ancient skill back to life.”