Nieuwe Instituut
Nieuwe Instituut

Sonneveld House

New Store: Sand Jewellery Workshop

Sand Jewellery is a series of pieces by Irma Földényi, designer and researcher at STUDIO IF. Rather than using scarce precious metals, she makes these pieces from sand. During the workshop, you will learn more about Földényi’s design process while also creating your own Sand Jewellery brooch.

29 October 2026 18:00 - 19:30

Sand Jewellery by Irma Földényi. Photo: Anastasija Mass.

Jewellery typically uses scarce precious metals and stones, from gold, silver and platinum to diamonds, sapphires and rubies. Designer Irma Földényi, however, explores an alternative: sand. It takes nature thousands of years to erode rock into grains of sand, and humans then exploit the material endlessly for economic gain.

Földényi creates her jewellery by mixing sand with fish glue, a natural binding agent. When a piece comes into contact with water, it dissolves completely, allowing the sand to return to its source.

Participants should bring 250 grams of sand collected from a location of their choice, such as their street or garden. Under Földényi's guidance, you will use this to create your own Sand Jewellery brooch. Once dry, the brooch can be collected from the Nieuwe Instituut.

Programme

  • 19:00 Workshop begins
  • 19:00 – 19:15 Introductory presentation by Irma Földényi
  • 19:15 – 19:30 Participant introductions
  • 19:30 – 20:15 Making Sand Jewellery brooches
  • 20:15 – 20:30 Workshop ends

Language: English | Location: Nieuwe Instituut | Tickets: € 12,50 / 7,50 / 0,-

Tickets

New Store

Irma Földényi’s Sand Jewellery is on sale in the New Store, the Nieuwe Instituut’s museum shop. Through the New Store, we are taking a fresh look at the shop of the future. Can a shop contribute to a healthy planet, instead of using up raw materials and depleting nature? And what could alternative forms of exchange or sale look like?

Project

Nieuwsbrief

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