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Yunus and Eliza

10 Years Together As Partners in Jewelry

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Even if you’ve never heard of Yunus and Eliza, you’ve probably seen their works, especially if you follow popular culture. This jewelry duo, comprised of Yunus Ascott and Eliza Higginbottom, an artist and a sculptor, respectively, created the unique and memorable statement jewelry that Daenerys Targaryen, the First of Her Name, wore on the set of Game of Thrones, the fantasy saga that triumphantly (or infamously—the jury’s still out!) ended last spring after eight seasons. To commemorate it, AJF asked Eliza Higginbottom a few questions.

MEY Designs (a collaboration from Yunus & Eliza and Michele Clapton for HBO’s Game of Thrones)
MEY Designs (a collaboration from Yunus & Eliza and Michele Clapton for HBO’s Game of Thrones) Mother of Dragons Chain, Breaking Chains Necklace, Link Ring, all solid sterling silver, www.mey.london, photo: Michelle Beatty

Katia Rabey: All of your jewelry has a very unique look, a clear DNA that shows immediately who the artists behind it are. You yourselves even look somewhat like your jewelry, in a way—wild and bohemian. Have you ever produced something that was not in your style, and if so, how did you feel doing it, and what do you think about the result?

Eliza Higginbottom: In general if we’re doing bespoke it’s because a client has come to us for our aesthetic, so it tends to be pretty much ours, but there is something fun about having outside influences when incorporating someone’s brief. It can push you in new directions. We once did an extraordinarily elaborate tiara for a wedding, which we were slightly horrified by!

Yunus & Eliza for Fyodor Golan, Face Sculpture
Yunus & Eliza for Fyodor Golan, Face Sculpture, electroformed copper, photo courtesy of Yunus & Eliza

When creating the pieces for Daenerys, you worked closely with Michele Clapton, the costume designer for the Game of Thrones series. How was it to work with her? Did she give clear directions on what the final result should be, or did she let you improvise? What do you think made her choose you for this job?

Eliza Higginbottom: It has been great working with Michele. She’s such a pro! She gives very clear directions, but allows us to interpret them, and we go back and forth, discovering the piece between us. She reached out to us at the point when she wanted to develop Daenerys’s character and take her in a bolder, darker direction.

Yunus & Eliza, Black Rings
Yunus & Eliza, Black Rings, from the Rebel Empire collection, rhodium-plated silver, from 60 to 140 mm tall, photo courtesy of Yunus & Eliza

Did you have any sources of inspiration while creating the pieces for Daenerys? Contemporary fashion, medieval prints, something else—or was it pure imagination?

Eliza Higginbottom: Imagination, really. But certainly knowing her character development, her story, and destination informed the design—so dragons, skeletal forms, armor, a juxtaposition of fierce, protective, and delicate.

MEY Designs (a collaboration from Yunus & Eliza and Michele Clapton for HBO’s Game of Thrones)
MEY Designs (a collaboration from Yunus & Eliza and Michele Clapton for HBO’s Game of Thrones), Daenerys Drogon Neck Sculpture, from Seasons 5 and 6 of Game of Thrones, solid sterling silver, www.mey.london, photo courtesy of Yunus & Eliza

I can easily imagine Cersei wearing one of your rings … besides Daenerys, what other Game of Thrones characters would have been able to pull off wearing your jewelry, in your opinion? Who else from the show would you like to adorn?

Eliza Higginbottom: Members of Dany’s crew all wore Allegiance Rings (Grey Worm, Varys, Jorah, Tyrion. And Missandei wore a Single Dragon Ring. But beyond that we always fancied decking out the Night King.

MEY Designs (a collaboration from Yunus & Eliza and Michele Clapton for HBO’s Game of Thrones)
MEY Designs (a collaboration from Yunus & Eliza and Michele Clapton for HBO’s Game of Thrones), Daenerys Mother of Dragons Chain, from Seasons 7 and 8 of Game of Thrones, solid sterling silver, www.mey.london, photo courtesy of Yunus & Eliza

A similar question, but casting a wider net: What characters from the world of fiction would you find it interesting to make pieces for? Any book, film, show, or video game is on the table. And what about real people, celebrities, historical figures—living or dead?

Eliza Higginbottom: We’d love to do a science fiction film, or Star Wars, or some of the Marvel films, like Black Panther—we always feel that things could be taken further. A video game—that’s a thought! We’d like to have made Prince something.

Yunus & Eliza, Hawk Armour Ring
Yunus & Eliza, Hawk Armour Ring, from the There Was Flight collection, gold-plated silver, black enamel, photo courtesy of Yunus & Eliza

Do you have a favorite piece you’ve made? Is it the same piece for the both of you?

Eliza Higginbottom: Yunus’s is an automaton he’s been working on for years. We’ll see it one day if he ever completes it! I’m attached to the collection we made called Rebel Empire.

Yunus & Eliza, Blaze Lamp
Yunus & Eliza, Blaze Lamp, bronze, 50 cm tall, photo courtesy of Yunus & Eliza

What’s the most interesting custom order you’ve ever received?

Eliza Higginbottom: We both enjoy the larger pieces for interiors that we’re doing these days, like bespoke chandeliers or yacht fixtures, which take us on some great travels. We’ve had some interesting stones turn up at the studio with their own bodyguards.

Yunus & Eliza X Atalanta Weller boots
Yunus & Eliza X Atalanta Weller boots, leather, brass, photo courtesy of Yunus & Eliza

This year, you celebrate 10 years of your artistic practice as a duo. Has it always been peaceful working together? Are there any parts of the creative process in which it’s harder to reach a consensus?

Eliza Higginbottom: Ha, well, we’re married and have two young children, so we have no peace anymore! We’ve become pretty good at collaborating, playing to our strengths, complementing each other and allowing space. We both bring something quite different to the table—which works.

Yunus & Eliza Fine, Metropolis Cuff
Yunus & Eliza Fine, Metropolis Cuff, 18-karat gold, white diamonds, 90 mm top to bottom, photo courtesy of Yunus & Eliza

What’s your favorite era in jewelry, and who would you say is your favorite jewelry artist?

Eliza Higginbottom: Art Deco and Art Nouveau are certainly inspirational periods. There’s something amazing about the freedom of the present day, though, and looking into the future.

What advice would you give to young jewelry designers/artists who dream of creating pieces for TV and film? What’s the best way for them to get into the industry?

Eliza Higginbottom: By making exciting things, and putting yourself somewhere where you can be seen. We definitely weren’t making small discrete pieces, and we have not been driven by fashions. Also, say “yes” to opportunity and interesting conversations—you never know where things will lead. Equally, say “no” when it’s clearly not worth it!

Can you share something you’ve seen, experienced, or read recently that has inspired you?

Eliza Higginbottom: A book of old fairground carousels called Fairground Art, by Geoff Weedon and Richard Ward.

Yunus & Eliza in the studio
Yunus & Eliza in the studio, 2012, photo courtesy of Yunus & Eliza

Author

  • Katia Rabey

    Katia Rabey graduated the philology department of the Russian State University for Humanities (Moscow) in 2012, and later from the jewelry design department of Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art (Tel Aviv) in 2017. She has written several reviews for the Russian media, promoting the Israeli contemporary jewelry field, and started a blog called Shinies, Trinkets & Crazy Shit. Her works as a jewelry designer have been included in exhibitions in Germany and Italy and mentioned in several magazines both in Russia and in Israel.

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