Is contemporary jewelry; the Olival jewels are idealized and manufactured by Catarina Olival Rodrigues. They are pieces that transport us to a delicate, sophisticated and unique universe inspired by the island of Madeira.
You're from a scientific area yet you produce jewelry, where arise this passion?
Catarina Olival Rodrigues: The passion comes from childhood. Always attended painting courses, fine arts and direct myself to health, because everyone told me that the arts have no future. I took a course in cardiopneumology as a diagnostic and therapeutic technician, but while I was doing the course, my mother who is my revolutionary told me to enroll me in a jewelry course, I took it alongside my degree.
What attracts you in particular towards jewelry?
COR: What attracts me is that we learn to do everything in jewelry from the fittings of the earrings to the last detail, I do not buy anything, I do everything from home, grab a plate in silver on gold, only now with the descent of the money power, decided to use brass wire and work all, just acquire the stones to fit. Otherwise everything is thought of, imagined and made by me.
So how would you define the "olive jewels"? What distinguishes them from the other?
COR: Is a person who likes to have something different from others, because there are a thousand stores with jewelry pieces all equal and I can create a personalized jewelry, more expensive or cheaper, and you can travel worldwide nobody will have an equal. It is made for a particular person with love, care and dedication. Every woman likes to have an exclusive piece and it is a privilege.
Who uses your jewelry?
COR: Are women since the age of 10 to eighty years old. There are no age limits, are jewels for those who enjoy sophisticated pieces for all occasions, is that the customer decides.
You spoke that you use brass, but which materials you like to work the most?
COR: I like to work with the silver and gold is so phenomenal, because it is soft, gentle is not as heavy, is a lovely material. I use freshwater pearls, diamonds, but I do not apply this type of stone in brass, bet on agates, smoked quartz, onyx, I use a little of everything.
How someone transposes the imaginary of the island to jewelry?
COR: Madeira is for me a source of inspiration because of the flowers. Just look at the laurel forest, I like to transpose to jewelry those minimum buttons and the folk groups. The traditional crafts has a lot to explore, however, we always see the same objects, which has no innovation. I decided to invest in sophisticated pieces, delicate but going back to the origins, I just go to any point on the island. No need to go to the internet for inspiration, Madeira is here to inspire me.
