The Jewellery Maker (Louisa Adjoa Parker)

This section provides analysis for the poem The Jewellery Maker by Louisa Adjoa Parker. The Jewellery Maker by Louisa Adjoa Parker offers a detailed portrait of a craftsman dedicated to his work. The poem presents the jewellery maker’s daily routine and highlights the delicate, intricate process of his craft. It contrasts the beauty and luxury of the jewellery he creates with the simplicity of his own life, reflecting themes of tradition, craftsmanship, and the beauty of human creativity. The poem’s gentle tone and vivid imagery bring to life the jewellery maker’s deep connection to his craft, while subtly commenting on the divide between the maker and the wearer of the jewellery. You can read the poem below followed by detailed analysis.

The Jewellery Maker by Louisa Adjoa Parker

Each day after sunrise he walks to the workshop-
like his father before him, and his father too –
the slap of sandalled feet on heat-baked stone,
the smell of blossom, a plate-blue sky. He greets
his neighbours with a smile. In the distance
a wild dog barks.

He sits straight-backed, lays out pointed tools
the way a surgeon might – neat as soldiers.
He likes hot metal, the smell, the way it yields
to his touch. Under deft fingers gold butterflies dance;
flowers bloom; silvery moons wax and wane,
then wax again; bright dragonflies flap two pairs of wings.

He likes the tiny loops and curls – he’d decorate
his house in this, drape his wife in fine-spun gold;
her skin wrinkled by sun, in simple cotton dress,
her only jewellery a plain gold band, worn thin.
He imagines the women who will wear
what he has made, clear-eyed, bird-boned, unlined skin
warming the metal his hands caress.

Analysis of The Jewellery Maker by Louisa Adjoa Parker

Themes

Tradition and Craftsmanship: The jewellery maker follows a family tradition, as suggested by the reference to his father and grandfather. His skill is passed down through generations, representing the continuity of craftsmanship and tradition. The poem celebrates this meticulous, hands-on work, valuing the artistry and precision involved in creating fine jewellery.

"like his father before him, and his father too" reflects the generational link in the craftsmanship of jewellery making.

Pride and Satisfaction in Work: The jewellery maker takes pride in his craft, and the poem highlights the joy and fulfilment he finds in his daily work. The care with which he arranges his tools and handles the materials suggests deep respect for his trade.

"He sits straight-backed, lays out pointed tools the way a surgeon might" conveys his meticulous approach and the skill involved in his work.

Beauty and Simplicity: There is a contrast between the luxurious, intricate jewellery the craftsman creates and the simplicity of his own life. His wife, for example, wears only a plain gold band, showing that despite working with beautiful and valuable materials, he and his family live modestly. This contrast underscores the idea that true value lies not in wealth, but in the craftsmanship and love that goes into the creation of each piece.

"her only jewellery a plain gold band, worn thin" highlights the simplicity of his wife’s adornments compared to the elaborate creations he makes.

Imagination and Creation: The jewellery maker’s imagination plays a crucial role in his work. As he creates butterflies, flowers, and dragonflies from precious metals, the poem captures the beauty of his imagination, which transforms raw materials into delicate, meaningful pieces of art.

"Under deft fingers gold butterflies dance; flowers bloom; silvery moons wax and wane" illustrates the magical transformation of metal into art through his skilled hands.

Separation Between Maker and Wearer: The poem subtly touches on the idea that the jewellery maker is removed from the world of those who wear his creations. He imagines the women who will wear his jewellery, but they are distant figures, unconnected to his everyday life. This suggests a divide between the creator, whose hands craft the jewellery, and the wearer, who enjoys the luxury of his creations.

"He imagines the women who will wear what he has made, clear-eyed, bird-boned" depicts an idealised image of the wearer, someone far removed from his own life.

Key Imagery and Symbols

Jewellery as Art: The jewellery itself is symbolic of beauty, creativity, and the fine art of craftsmanship. The imagery of butterflies, flowers, moons, and dragonflies represents the delicacy and intricacy of the jewellery maker’s work, showing how he brings nature to life through his creations.

"bright dragonflies flap two pairs of wings" creates a vivid image of his jewellery as something alive and beautiful, reflecting the care he puts into his work.

Tools and Process: The tools are carefully laid out like a surgeon’s instruments, symbolising the precision and skill required in the jewellery maker’s work. This imagery elevates his craft to the level of a respected art form, suggesting that he sees his work as both delicate and important.

"lays out pointed tools the way a surgeon might" compares the jewellery maker’s work to that of a surgeon, highlighting the precision and expertise required.

Contrast Between Simplicity and Luxury: The jewellery maker’s simple life contrasts with the luxurious items he creates. His wife wears only a plain gold band, while the women he imagines as wearing his jewellery are described as graceful and elegant. This contrast highlights the separation between the craftsman and the wealth or status associated with his creations.

"her skin wrinkled by sun, in simple cotton dress" contrasts the modesty of the jewellery maker’s own life with the glamour of the jewellery he produces.

Sun and Heat: The imagery of heat, sun, and the open sky evokes the physical environment in which the jewellery maker works. This sense of place adds to the feeling of a daily routine steeped in tradition and connection to the natural world, while also hinting at the hard work and dedication required in his craft.

"the slap of sandalled feet on heat-baked stone" grounds the poem in a specific, almost timeless setting, where the jewellery maker’s work is part of a larger natural and social order.

Structure and Form

The poem is written in free verse, which allows the imagery and details of the jewellery maker’s daily life to flow naturally, without the constraints of rhyme or metre. This mirrors the organic, creative process of the jewellery maker, whose work follows the rhythm of his own hands and imagination.

The poem is structured in a single continuous stanza, reflecting the steady, uninterrupted flow of the jewellery maker’s routine. There is a calm and measured pace to the poem, mirroring the patience and concentration required for his intricate work.

Tone

Respectful and Celebratory: The tone of the poem is respectful, celebrating the jewellery maker’s craftsmanship and dedication to his work. The detailed description of his tools, his process, and the beauty of the jewellery he creates conveys admiration for his skill and artistry.

Reflective and Contemplative: The poem is also reflective, particularly in the moments when the jewellery maker imagines the women who will wear his creations. These moments of contemplation add depth to the poem, as the jewellery maker reflects on the lives that will intersect with his art, even though they remain distant from his own.

Key Quotations for Analysis

"He sits straight-backed, lays out pointed tools the way a surgeon might"

This simile compares the jewellery maker’s precision and care to that of a surgeon, suggesting that his craft requires both skill and focus, elevating it to a form of art.

"Under deft fingers gold butterflies dance; flowers bloom; silvery moons wax and wane"

The imagery of butterflies, flowers, and moons emphasises the beauty and delicacy of the jewellery maker’s work. His creations are not just functional but works of art that capture the essence of nature.

"her only jewellery a plain gold band, worn thin"

This description of the jewellery maker’s wife highlights the contrast between the luxury of his creations and the simplicity of his own life. The plain gold band represents a modest, enduring love, in contrast to the decorative jewellery he makes for others.

"He imagines the women who will wear what he has made"

This line reveals the distance between the maker and the wearer of his jewellery. While he creates beauty for others, they remain distant figures in his imagination, symbolising the divide between the labour of creation and the luxury of consumption.

Context

Louisa Adjoa Parker is a British poet and writer of Ghanaian and English heritage. Her work often explores themes of identity, belonging, and culture, as well as the relationship between people and the environments they inhabit. In The Jewellery Maker, Parker focuses on the quiet artistry of a craftsman whose work is grounded in tradition, reflecting her broader interest in exploring the lives and experiences of individuals who are often overlooked.

The Jewellery Maker by Louisa Adjoa Parker is a thoughtful and evocative poem that celebrates the skill, patience, and artistry of the titular craftsman. Through vivid imagery and careful attention to detail, Parker highlights the beauty of the jewellery maker’s work while also reflecting on the contrast between the luxury he creates and the simplicity of his own life. The poem invites readers to consider the value of craftsmanship and the often unseen effort that goes into creating objects of beauty, as well as the distance between the maker and those who enjoy the fruits of his labour.

You can find analysis of all the AQA Worlds and Lives Anthology Poems here.