Coenraad Zielstra graduated from Vakschool for Goud en Zilversmeden with his gold and silversmithing diplomas in 1963. But Coenraad was much more than a metalsmith, he was an exceptional artist with his own gallery of rings pendants and jewelry items. His creativity and originality were exemplified by his use of antique metalsmithing tools he brought with him when he immigrated from Holland.
Entering his studio in Fairhaven Washington, one stepped into another time with his collection of 18th and 19th century mahogany tables, display cases and cabinets.
A row of rolling mills marked the beginning of his studio workspace.
Anvils, crucibles, molds, hammers, files, a large rolling mill are all antiques that function as well today as they did centuries ago.
His historic collection of metalsmithing tools would be remarkable for a museum, but they weren’t for show, they were used to create beautiful, wearable sculptures for the 45 years Coenraad has worked with them.
Dutch Master Goldsmith Coenraad Zielstra (1943 – 2010)
miss Coenraad, he made my wife’s wedding ring in Gastown, Vancouver, bc. we went down to see him to get it slightly altered but heard of his death. we should have acted earlier…I can still hear him in the backroom scratching the design of the ring after having examining my wife’s left hand. I think it was a lead scratchy pencil or charcoal pencil. I cringed over the sund of the pencil but the outcome was simply beautiful. I know my daughters definitely want to inherit the ring..
Wonderful story Michael Ma, thanks for sharing!