Katherine Jetter has always drawn on Nantucket’s evocative landscapes and deep-rooted culture for her work. This summer, the jewelry designer and founder of The Vault Nantucket unveiled a collaboration with Silvia Furmanovich through an inspiring partnership on the island of Nantucket. Everywhere you look in Nantucket is beauty, remarks Katherine. “The place is so special because of our local land preservation, and with a very short, distinct season, everything comes to life in the summer. I think the Hydrangea and Rosa Rugosa are especially meaningful – you look at this motif and think Nantucket and remember the happy scents of summer,” she adds.
The collaboration has brought together Silvia’s mastery of marquetry and heritage techniques with Nantucket’s artisanal traditions. The 60-piece capsule spans jewelry, accessories, and home décor. Woven horsemane flower cluster earrings with diamond centers with sky blue topaz and diamond tops, earrings featuring miniature painting with sky blue topaz and pink tourmaline oval tops with diamond detailing, marquetry clutch with prasiolite clasps in 18-karat yellow gold, marquetry cuff with details in citrine, diamonds and 18-karat yellow gold — the one-of-a- kind designs range in price from $1,500-$20,000:
For Katherine, who has long considered Nantucket her summer home, the island was the natural anchor for the project. “Nantucket is a magical place. We are such fans of Silvia’s intricate work,” she says. “We saw an opportunity for her to showcase the beauty of the island through a collection that spans jewelry, accessories, and home décor and tell that story to her global audience,” Katherine adds. The finished pieces embody that harmony — at once rooted in place and borderless in appeal.
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Noted for elevating ancient techniques into sophisticated contemporary design, the Brazilian designer found her own inspiration in Nantucket’s flora, architecture, and craft. “It has been a true joy to collaborate with Katherine Jetter on a collection that honors this rich heritage through the lens of jewelry. Together, we have created pieces that are both rooted in place and expansive in imagination,” adds Silvia. Elaborating on her creative process, the Brazilian jeweler says she immerses herself “in the local environment, understanding the flora such as Nantucket’s Ponderosa pines and hydrangeas and the cultural fabric woven into its basketry tradition.”
“Nantucket has so much history steeped in the whaling industry, with scrimshaw and basket weaving; it was a natural fit for us to incorporate local Nantucket treasured techniques into the collection,” says Katherine of her collaboration with Silvia. And it was this artisanal language that resonated with Silvia’s design ethos.
“Nantucket’s basketry tradition, with its roots dating back to the 18th century, is a remarkable example of artisanal heritage that has been carefully preserved and passed down through generations,” Silvia reflects. “I also greatly admire Nantucket’s commitment to architectural preservation…This preservation ethos inspired me to approach the collection with sensitivity, balancing innovation with reverence for tradition.”
The results are extraordinary. Marquetry, miniature painting, and horse mane weaving have been used to create fine jewellery that feels distinctly Nantucket yet unmistakably Silvia Furmanovich. One thing the duo really enjoyed creating together was the Belen and Cherrywood woven bracelets with their partner, Maureen Mullen of ‘Sailorschoice.’ “These are the ultimate Nantucket jewelry accessory — fun, wearable, and uniquely Nantucket, but with that special Silvia Furmanovich marquetry,” Katherine notes.
Katherine is quick to highlight what makes Silvia such a compelling partner: her ability to bring heritage techniques into the future. “One of the things that is so special about Silvia is her uncanny ability to bring time-honored techniques into the future. The craftsmanship is sophisticated, elegant, and understated, which is the epitome of Nantucket and the aesthetic of many of the incredible women and clients of The Vault who collect her work from us.”
It was a dream come true for Katherine, who had always wanted to create something together with Silvia. “She is such an amazing talent, and it never ceases to amaze me how she continues to come up with new and compelling concepts for her work year after year. We also love and respect each other, so it made the design process easy,” informs Katherine.
For both women, the project goes beyond jewelry into a dialogue about preservation, place, and female collaboration. Katherine reflects: “Anyone who knows me knows how committed I am to female empowerment and the value of women supporting women. Silvia has a strong sense of self and carries herself with great class and integrity. She is extremely hands-on with all that she does. I love that Silvia is not only a fellow female founder but also a mother like me.”
The launch event during Nantucket by Design in July was met with excitement — and Katherine is optimistic about the collection’s continued success. “We had a great event during our launch, and we have heard lots of great chatter on the island about this line. We are hoping we can continue post-season,” she adds. The Vault, founded in 2017, is located in the Hotel Pippa and carries a range of jewelry personally curated by Katherine. Head over to The Vault if you missed the summer buzz.
