We always aim to improve our service and our shop. In 2016 we had the opportunity to enlarge our space and we have extended it with an adjoining gallery. We are now able to better display our jewellery in this beautiful and generous space.
We also wish to use this gallery to provide an opportunity for other creative people to showcase and sell their work.
Our latest exhibition ran from Devember 2021 until the end of January 2022. Please find the details below.
Picture: Leijola
Lichtensteig, SG
After an apprenticeship as a decoration designer, I completed the preliminary design course at the Basel School of Applied Arts, then studied textile design at the Zurich University of the Arts.
While working, I also completed a degree in fashion design at the Textilfachschule Zürich.
Painting has always been my passion, which I continuously develop with courses.
The focus of my painting is the modern, figurative implementation of my personal interpretation of reality, perception, emotion and memory.
The aesthetics and mysticism of the local traditions I implement with my visual language and the craft of painting. It is my concern to touch people with my pictures.
Adlikon, ZH
I have always been fascinated by wood as a material. Its natural beauty, its individuality, but also its character, which shows itself in the processing - sometimes simple and accessible, sometimes bristly and with a lot of resistance, but in any case always different.
With each workpiece begins a journey with an unknown destination for me, the wood shows me the way. It shows me what is to become of it, it reveals to me its personality and its supposed blemishes and it tells me its history, which is marked by annual rings, cracks, notches and knotholes.
For my handmade products I use only local woods - such as apple, pine, plum, oak or walnut, which I select and process with great care - as well as food safe and organic oils.
Zürich, ZH
I discovered silk painting for myself only in 2017 and made it my hobby. Meanwhile, silk painting fascinates me so much that I practice it with great passion.
Planning the design is a lot of fun for me. I have the option to choose concrete shapes and motifs or just let the color "take its course".
I put a lot of heart and soul into my work. All my scarves are unique. I paint the silk by hand, which opens up a variety of design possibilities, both in the choice of motif and the color composition.
The quality of the colors allows many gradations of shades without affecting their luminosity. I can mix individual shades that harmonize with outfits. This is exactly what makes my work and my scarves special!
Untereggen, SG
Handmade handbags and accessories
I am a creative person and have many ideas that I can live out in sewing and designing. In my free time I like to be in the mountains. Furthermore, I am interested in fashion, design and architecture.
In sewing I specialize in handbags, small useful accessories and restored footstools. My products are without exception self-made and handmade unique items from deerskin and felt.
The leather has been sustainably tanned without chemical additives using an old traditional process (old seed).
Luzern, LU
I am the signorina behind the label Giulietta. A half-Italian from Lucerne, I am originally a teacher & textile designer.
Since 2009, I passionately produce the fresh lemon liqueur according to the original Italian recipe. Soon followed other flavors such as tangerine, orange, raspberry or laurel, which I produce to match the season. For the production of the liqueurs, I elaborately handcraft the finest, organically grown citrus fruits from Sicily or bay leaves from my garden in Tuscany.
Cooking, design and my passion for Italy combine to create high-quality products. According to the motto AMA E VIVI (love and live), I also produce various delicacies such as flavoured oils, jams or spiced salts around the theme of Italy in my manufactory in Lucerne.
I make all my designs myself with great attention to detail. My designs can also be purchased in the form of postcards, paper placemats or T-shirts.
Picture: Leijola
Dicken, CH
Photography has been a long-standing passion of mine - ever since my parents left me their old analogue Nikon camera when I was a teenager. I spent all my pocket money on film and spent countless hours developing images in my school's tiny darkroom. Photography has taken me all over the world, and I've been lucky enough to capture some incredible sights along the way.
Since 2012 I have settled down and built up my studio. I work as a digital visual communication artisan and besides photography I also work with layout, web design and videography. I love the challenge of visually representing small complicated things - like all the jewellery Paul makes.
For this exhibition I am exhibiting some of my photographs from the region on high-quality Christmas cards: So you can even send your friends and relatives a piece of Toggenburg... ;)
Glarus, GL
Wooden objects
Die Suche nach einer anderen Lebensart veranlasste mich in meiner Jugendzeit Basel zu verlassen. Der Weg führte mich nach Asien. Since then I have been making jewellery objects. The versatility of the materials I use came about through my journey, which is still ongoing.
The coconut tree, also called the tree of life, is my basic material. Bamboo, stones, seeds, all gifts of nature are welcome.
The creation is only a shaping of something that already exists.
Melchnau, BE
In 2013 I discovered the wood turning by chance through a newspaper article. After some first attempts in a course, I soon got the fever of turning and now it occupies a large part of my free time.
Oak, ash, sweet chestnut and fruit trees are my preferred woods. I prefer to process the blanks before they are dry. The key to the individual object is in the tree. I create a simple shape on the lathe, which is then individually shaped by the dynamics of the drying process. Steel brushes and sandblasting help to treat the surface. Iron water and pigments enhance the shape of individual objects.
Bütschwil, SG
The production takes place in several steps with the best craftsmanship: from cutting by hand or with the manually operated punching machine, through preparing the individual parts, whether with a punch and hammer, sewing machine or a dab of glue, to sewing them together to create a high-quality end product. All Walobag bags are made by hand in our atelier.
The company started in 1920 with the production of upholstered furniture frames for the Strässle Collektion company in Kirchberg. In 1987 I took over the company in the third generation. Together with my son Silvan, I developed the Selun backpack. In 2018 my niece discovered my bags and created a logo and a new website. walobag.com was born.
Grub, AR
Frick Art GmbH
Since the beginning of my creative training as a painter, I was fascinated by the various possibilities to design something. Be it a paint job on a wall, a fancy spatula technique or an application with a sponge, paintbrush, brush or a piece of fabric.
The boundaries to highlight a component or an object in terms of design and to bring it into effect in the room are limitless.
Not so long ago I discovered the jointless spatula technique with lime / marble plaster or on a microcement basis. This way of designing something, allowed me blossom and start creating images.
This is the first time I'm exhibiting something of mine. I am very excited and curious how it will develop. Ideas of what to do next and what materials to use are still in progress. In the first few pictures, gold was a very strong theme.
Lichtensteig, SG
I started making soap using the cold process about 15 years ago as a hobby.
Out of the conviction to do good for the skin and the environment, not to let any unnecessary synthetic substances on the skin and into the body, as well as to protect the waters, I started to make natural soaps from vegetable oils, which I only scented with 100% natural essential oils and as Add local herbs and sheep's milk - everything is lovingly made by hand. My soaps are becoming more and more popular and about 7 years ago I turned my hobby into a job.
There was another change this summer. My two daughters Julia and Angela join the «soap business» and the three of us found a GmbH. The Toggenburger natural soaps are now a small family business. We would be happy to pamper you with our lovingly handmade natural cosmetic products.
Menzengrüt, ZH
My hand-turned ceramic vessels appear in an exploding play of colors, humorous, playful and sometimes a bit bizarre.
The individually designed pieces are provided with hand-modeled figures from the animal world and other decorations. With luminous glazes, elaborately painted in a variety of patterns, surprising combinations result. However, almost all of them are functional, I really enjoy making ceramics for everyday use or for special applications.
I completed my apprenticeship as a potter in 1989 and then worked for two years in various ceramic workshops. So I was able to gain enriching experience in order to be well motivated to found my own workshop in 1991.
Since then, the pottery has been my daily work, fulfillment and livelihood.
Neu St. Johann, SG
During my apprenticeship as a printing technologist at Typotron AG St. Gallen, I came into contact with high-quality printed matter at an early age. After a few years of professional experience, at the end of 2015 I was able to realize my dream and start my own finishing company.
Using old letterpress printing machines, the finest papers and unique techniques, I create works of art that depict Swiss traditions with a touch of modernity.
Made in rural Toggenburg, the beauties of nature and people are the inspiration for these exclusive prints.
With a lot of patience and know-how, I develop artistic and timeless works.
Elgg, ZH
Handwriting Artist, chrisvanweidmann.com
"You have to learn to open your eyes" (Galileo Galilei) and only then can you grasp the tiny letters in Chris van Weidmann's pictures. Her calligraphy creates stunning, carefully crafted and precise pieces of art. When viewed from a distance, all you see is an image, but once you get close you can see that the entire work is actually in the artist's handwriting.
The hair-fine works in ink lead the eye to see the tiny wonders of nature or stories from everyday life. Chris van Weidmann combines the subtle art of image, word, and text in her all-handwritten, unique pieces. She was only 10 years of age when she taught herself the art of calligraphy and she still remains passionate about it to this day. "With my works I want to make people take a closer look and understand that some things can only be seen at second glance."
In addition to a passion for handwriting, origami art is something that fascinates her, which is why she combines both in some of her work.
For the very first time, this exhibition will focus on Japanese folding art. An exhibition to discover, the likes of which you've never seen from Chris Van Weidmann before.
Waldstatt, AR
Gemischte Medien, manser-karrer.ch
In all these years, the human being has been at the centre, and I have dealt exclusively with the media of rhythm, movement and dance. I have taught these media with a lot of passion, both at public schools but also at my own dance school, where I have also realised countless performances. In the meantime, this activity has become less.
Being in contact with what is and what wants to become, that is an emotional, unsettling and happy act at the same time. For me, painting and designing means keeping the fire. I have arrived where it all began: My professional career began with painting and attending arts and crafts schools in St. Gallen and Zurich. I love nature, - and I love the spontaneous, the living - I can now express this love with form and colour, with tools and material.
Flawil, SG
Hark Designs, harkdesigns.com
Chinese nuns taught me to sew my own underwear when I was 10 years old. Two years later I ended up in the emergency ward because of a pin in my windpipe. I was bitten by the sewing bug. I learned to work with leather while studying mime in Manhattan in the early 80s. This renewable, natural material fascinated me because of its toughness, flexibility and durability. I was also drawn to the tools of the trade: hammers, presses, glue, and of course the sturdy sewing machines.
But my main occupation for 20 years was movement theatre. Besides writing and producing the plays, I also created all the costumes and props. At the age of 50, I returned to my first passion and started Hark Designs.
With any new design, it's all about style first, of course. But the practitioner in me demands that functionality, durability and attention to detail are just as important. And then there's the indulgence in the colour tones! Every design requires several prototypes until everything is just right. Instinctively, I look for shapes that feel comfortable and fit the body. I have only ever worn homemade bags - and now I can share them with the world.
St. Gallen, SG
Seam, seamdesign.ch
I, Sibylle Kuhn, am the designer and owner of seam. I am a trained dressmaker, have always been interested in craftsmanship and am often inspired by nature in my work. After my couture training, I worked as an artisan blacksmith in London and taught art subjects at various schools. After successfully completing my fashion design studies in Zurich, I founded my fashion label in 2009.
I make fashion that is season and trend independent. Design and execution are fluid, with personally selected materials being the basis and inspiration for all pieces.
In an unmistakable style, the seam becomes a statement, torn edges a trademark, playing with transparency and reversibility a distinguishing feature.
Adlikon, ZH
Hoizart, hoizart.ch
Wood has always fascinated me as a material. Its natural beauty, its individuality, but also its character, which becomes apparent during processing - sometimes simple and accessible, sometimes bristly and with a lot of resistance, but in any case always different.
With each workpiece, a journey begins with a destination unknown to me, the wood showing me the way. It shows me what it is to become, it reveals to me its personality and its supposed blemishes, and it tells me its history, which is marked by annual rings, cracks, notches and knotholes.
For my handmade products, I use only local woods - such as apple, stone pine, plum, oak or walnut, which I select and process with great care - as well as food-safe and organic oils.
To encourage young people to venture into the world of visual arts, we organised a photography competition for the youth of Toggenbourg and neighbouring regions.
All those between the ages of 12 and 16 (students of secondary school) were invited to submit a maximum of three photographs for each of the following categories:
portrait, light, my life.
An independant panel judged the photographs and the best 10 images of each category are exhibited from November 2018 until the end of January 2019 at the Gallery.
The winners are as follows:
Category Light:
1. Leoni Rüdlinger, 2. Lara Berger, 3. David Widmer
Category Portrait:
1. Jasmin Widmer, 2. Kristijan Munegato, 3. Nuria Gaudenz
Category My Life:
1. Laurin Bleiker, 2. Leoni Rüdlinger, 3. Anastasia Grütter
You can read more about the event here (in German only):
Tagblatt - Jugendfotopreis 2018
Picture: Simon Schneider
St. Gallen, CH
Raku Objects
Already Philia's grandmother worked with clay and created beautiful pottery. On a trip to Japan in 2010, Philia became acquainted with clay herself. Since then, she has been honing her skills and her ability to express herself with pottery.
Philia burns hand-made tea cups in a raku oven, creates sculptures and other art objects. In between, she practices turning beautiful bowls at the potter's wheel. Important inputs for her come from friends and specialist seminars at the Lehmhuus in Aesch, where Philia draws inspiration from various European and Japanese artists.
She ventures along the path of Aikido with Peter Shapiro Sensei. The Way of Tea and the Music of the Shakuhachi, as well as the sculptures of Arp and Giacometti influence her pottery.
Lichtensteig / Zurich, CH
Images and objects
Gabrielle Gern (1957) lives in Lichtensteig and Zurich. Since she can remember, she has loved drawing and painting. From 1983 to 1986 she attended the Zurich School of Applied Arts (Kunstgewerbeschule).
Today, collages and assemblages are her favorite means of expression. She knows how to combine different elements together, as if they had always belonged together, to create something new. You will find a fine sense of humour and a pinch of profundity in her pictures and objects.
Lausanne, CH
Mixed Media, christine-seifert.com
Christine's nomadic life is mirrored in her work. Soon after she was born in Bamberg Germany in 1954, the family moved lock, stock, and barrel to a coffee farm on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania in 1957. It is there that she spent her childhood, in the wilderness and with horses. She attended a boarding school in Nairobi, Kenya, and what followed was a life of moving: from East to South Africa, to Europe, and back to Africa.
Christine taught herself photography and sketching, and in 1987 studied at the Schule für Kunst und Gestaltung in Zürich. This experience encouraged her to step out into the world as an independent artist and to deepend her work.
With her paintings she experiments with different forms of expression. She also sculpts and enjoys working with graphics.
Since 2003, she has been represented by a number of galleries - from the UK to Europe and Africa - and her work has garnered international recognition and collectors.
Julia Leijola, anthroenology.org
Discover a different way to taste wine and travel through the South African wine regions with anthroenologist Julia Leijola.
We will be blind tasting three white and three red wines as well as an orange wine. These will be conventional, biodynamic, or natural wines. The tasting will be done blind so that participants can focus on what they are actually tasting without being influenced by their knowledge of or assumptions about the wine in question.
Saturday October 14th 2017 from 4 until about 6pm.
Registration required.
Please e-mail julia@anthroenology.org with your details (number and name of participant(s)) to register for this event.
Price: 20CHF per person
Max. amount of participants: 20.
Registered participants will be invited to arrive shortly before 4pm so that the event can start promptly.
No previous knowledge of wine tasting is required.
Anthroenology is an anthropological research project on wine and issues of sustainability, morality, and the redefinition of taste.
The project asks a deceptively simple question about consumption and political economy: when beliefs or ethics come into conflict with taste or similar expectations, which one wins, and why? Or, asked in a slightly different matter: how do our beliefs about the world affect the way we taste? The project is thus concerned with key issues in contemporary economic anthropology, but does so through a lens that we believe to be unique: the intersection of beliefs and the actual sensory experiences of consumption.
You can read more about the project on the Anthroenology website.
Winterthur/Schönengrund, CH
Aquarelle painting, wertlishome.ch
Yvonne started drawing at an early age and her skills were recognised already at school. She continued learning about drawing and painting on her own, dedicating it to her passion for dogs.
In 2003 she met Albert Schmid per chance who took her on as an aquarelle colour student and taught her the technique of wet on wet. Looking for another artist to learn from, she found Christian Schäfer a few years later and has been painting in his atelier since 2011.
Effretikon (ZH), CH
Oil painting, sambeth-painting.jimdo.com
Uli Sambeth was born in 1959 in London. He was brought up in Geneva and sudied Geophysics at the ETH in Zürich. From an early age he has been interested in stones, mountains, and volcanoes in particular.
Thanks to a small house in Toggenburg, which serves as his family's refuge, he feels attached to this hilly region.
He has been painting with aquarelle colours for a long time and thanks to the help of an artist friend has been also painting with oil for some time. Next to his busy job, painting allows him to find quietude, balance, and a sense of satisfaction.
Neuchâtel, CH
Handmade lamps and decorative objects, latelierdesidees.ch
Fanny Trommer is originally from France and has lived in Neuchâtel for almost a decade. Her passions in life are creativity and science: she holds a PhD in Neurobiology and infuses her creative work in the atelier with her experiences at the laboratory.
Self-taught, she enjoys experimenting with various materials and is always looking for new ones to work with.
Fanny sees light acting as a revealing agent: by penetrating the layers, the colours, and the volumes, it unveils the heterogeneity of the materials in their entirety. Creating a lamp is creating a living object, which tells its own story.
Rapperswil-Jona, CH
Artist - painter, ronhurst.com
Ron Hurst was born in 1943 in Jackson, MI, USA and moved to Switzerland in 1972. His father discouraged him from living the "destitute life" of an artist despite Ron demonstrating artistic talent early in life. Since 1997, and after a career outside of art, he has pursued the life of an autodidact, honing his artistic skills thanks to workshops and literature.
He works with oil and acrylic. For him, painting is the pursuit of the self in relation to the world he lives in. Be it realistic portraits, landscapes, or sociocritical pieces (beautiful paintings of ugly things), he aims to create passionate responses and to communicate with a feel-good, aesthetic appeal.
Kyoto, Japan
Ceramist
Noriyuki Shimizu is from Nagahama, Japan, and has been working as a ceramist for 40 years. He trained at the renowned Kiyomizuyaki kamamoto in Kyoto.
He is inspired by the rich natural earthen tones that surround his house. He prefers using the colours that fill the natural world around us since these are the colours we never tire of: they provide a sense of warmth and tranquility.
He makes his glazes out of natural materials: pine ash, rice straw ash, and soil, which he blends himself to create the perfect texture and colour for his glazes.
Hauptstrasse 33, 9650 Nesslau
+41 71 377 19 44
+41 77 485 13 92
paulbrent@goldschmiedestpeterzell.ch
Opening times:
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 10 – 12 / 14 – 18:30
Wednesday: 14 – 18:30
Saturday: 13 – 16
Closed on Sundays