A new exhibition at The Orkney Museum is set to shine a light on sixty years of the islands’ remarkable jewellery heritage, from ancient inspiration to modern artistry.
From Broch to Brooches: Tracing Orkney’s Timeless Craft opens on Saturday 15 November, celebrating the evolution of Orkney jewellery and the people who have turned its rich history and landscape into wearable art.
The launch event runs from 3pm to 4pm at The Orkney Museum in Kirkwall, giving visitors a first look at a collection that tells the story of how Orkney’s makers have drawn on archaeology, community, and the natural world to shape a distinctive creative identity.
The exhibition explores how designers have looked to the past for inspiration, from the stones of Skara Brae and the circle of Brodgar to Viking hoards and Pictish carvings.
These influences can be seen in intricate designs that incorporate runes, symbols, and motifs connecting ancient craft with contemporary creativity.
Jewellery has long carried meaning in island life, a mark of belonging, memory, and celebration.
The display reveals how local makers have captured that spirit in brooches, rings, pendants, and other pieces that speak to both heritage and innovation.
The natural world is ever-present, reflected in the curves of waves, the shimmer of Orkney light, and the colours of sea and stone.
Makers have turned those elements into enduring design, using local materials and organic forms to mirror the landscape around them.
The story begins in the 1960s with Ola Gorie, whose pioneering work fused Norse and Pictish archaeology with modern design.
Malcolm Gray’s founding of Ortak in 1967 brought Orkney jewellery to a wider audience, while Sheila Fleet’s rise in the 1990s added bold colour and technical brilliance, carrying the craft firmly into the modern era.
Today, new generations continue that legacy.
Makers including Karen Duncan, Celina Rupp, Alison Moore, Marion Miller, Aurora and Fluke Jewellery are each putting their own creative stamp on Orkney’s jewellery story, blending contemporary style with timeless inspiration.
Developed in collaboration with Creative Orkney, the islands’ craft and creative industries network, the exhibition celebrates the enduring connection between people, place, and craft that continues to define Orkney’s creative community.
From Broch to Brooches runs until Wednesday 24 December at The Orkney Museum, Broad Street, Kirkwall.
The museum is open Monday to Saturday, from 10.30am to 5pm (closed 12.30pm to 1.30pm), with free admission.
