Glenice was not only a master jeweller and part of WA’s jewellery making history but a longstanding member of Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group Australia.
She was first my teacher, then friend and mentor. I never heard her say a nasty word about anyone, she was straight as a die and her integrity was absolute. Her skills were so rich and varied, from the delicate enamelling to the huge waxes, sculptures and fabricated models of things like eagles, mining equipment and scale models of motorcars, raised Church and Synagogue pieces, the formal regalia and mace for the City of Joondalup down to traditional and contemporary jewellery – and in every instance, detail and finish were absolutely meticulous. I truly doubt that there is anyone else in this state at least, who is her equal in all of these areas. She was very quiet, almost self effacing, about her achievements, but she never stopped working to obtain new and challenging commissions. I remember the eagle and one Rolls Royce car in particular – the head and neck of the eagle must have been a good 20 – 25cm high, every feather delicate and distinct, with (of all things) an enamelled rose in his beak. She carved the eagle in wax and had him cast, and told me that soldering the enamelled rose to his beak was the single most difficult soldering job she’d ever done. Given the sheer size/weight of the eagle versus the delicacy of the rose, I’m not surprised. The car (don’t think I ever saw it completed) was giving her a few headaches ... doors could be opened, probably the bonnet could be raised as well – that was the sort of person she was.
JMGA has a copy of her 1982 book, Enamels, Enamelling and Enamellists, which was used as a teaching aid for many years. I remember making some comment to her about the way in which the book was laid out, and she told me it was done that way so that when people contacted her with problems encountered whilst working on one of the projects, she could follow through with them step by step to work out what had gone wrong and to find the solution.
I’ll miss her.
Jane
