Steampunk from the Cosmos

An Emeritus Professor of both gold and silversmithing, Melbourne artist Robert Baines uses precious metals to fashion intricate pieces. His prolific work fuses historic techniques with his signature contemporary vernacular. Expanding on the vernacular of Steampunk – a science fiction subgenre inspired by the 19th Century technological aesthetic – Baines intertwines historical jewellery design techniques with futuristic forms in this wearable piece. Comprised entirely of gold, the filigree structure transcends time, appearing both archaic and simultaneously avant-garde. Suspended on a simplified chain, the complex centrepiece enmeshes musings about both the material and metaphysical realms.