Enjoy the Luxury – Jewelry by Jitka Kudláčková
Everything has its beginning
The tradition of Czech goldsmiths during the first republic was well known all over the world. The original trade of her father, the artistic smith Jaroslav Kudláček, had an important influence on the life of Jitka Kudláčková. Her own vocation in fact shares certain similarities with that of her father, even though she smiths mostly precious metals. In the first half of the eighties of the 20th century, Jitka worked as an apprentice goldsmith in the Soluna cooperative.
Another important event took place in 1991, when she met her future husband Dušan Mlynarčík who allowed her to work as a goldsmith in the capital of Venezuela – Caracas. The craftsmanship of South American goldsmiths, the way they used precious stones and their world-level design gave her the opportunity to quickly grow and improve her skills. She gets access to exceptionally luxurious jewels, and has the opportunity to also help create them. In 1996 she returned to the Czech Republic and founded her first small shop, called “Jitka Kudláčková Jewels”. Significant changes then took place in 2010: Vardan Nazaryan and David G.Hrubec, designers and master goldsmiths with rich experience, each from a different part of the world, join the company.
Handcrafting as a product of the soul – the workshop of Jitka Kudláčková
The work of a goldsmith can be described as the processing of gold intermediate products – sheets and wires. These are first rolled and lengthened, then cut, bent and joint via brazing. Mastery in this area requires years of practice – goldsmiths need to have a deep understanding of precious metals and must be capable of shaping it as well as giving each piece a little bit of their soul. At the beginning, one needs to decide whether production should be based on the standard technique (production of a jewel directly from gold), or whether lost wax casting should be used.
Would you like to see the goldsmithing process yourself? You are welcome to do so – from a luxurious balcony in the BB Center, part of the Filadelfie building, which hosts the goldsmith shop and workshop of Jitka Kudláčková.
And what can you “take home”?
The JK workshop makes collections and jewels for everyday use as well as unique, luxurious pieces for special occasions. These range from various pieces of jewelry, accessories, and even watches of renowned brands such as Miluna, Retofy diamonds, Maurice Lacroix and others.
"That what is immortal as a jewel, which does not boast its age but rather shines with the present.” Rabíndranáth Thákur
