Clay
Clay carries with it the essence of bygone eras. Some of the earliest vessels and containers utilised by ancient civilizations were made using locally sourced clays which—while of a functional nature—were adorned and decorated using coloured slips and engraving techniques.
The human need for adornment, beautification, and storytelling is evident in the clay pots, vessels, and vases found in the historical sites of many early civilizations—and these artful flourishes exceed the practical “functionality” of clay dishes by serving a much deeper and more fundamental need in human nature.
Clay is a soft, loose, and earthy material containing particles with a grain size of less than 4 micrometers formed as a result of the weathering and erosion of rocks containing the mineral group feldspar.
The presence of impurities in the clay contribute to its colour and plasticity, which is soft and pliable while wet. However, the process of drying clay and firing it to very high temperatures results in a hard and durable material.
The transformation of turning clay earth from something plastic to something rock-like makes it a magical material to work with as well as to wear and admire.
Using clay in the production of jewellery enables the maker to create free-flowing shapes that convey the fluidity of movements like no other material.
The Ancient Egyptians used clay for making beads and objects of adornment that diversified the utilisation of clay beyond the making of storage vessels, attesting to the higher function of decoration and adornment of our bodies and dwellings.
Wearing jewellery that contains clay thus continues a long and proud tradition of valuing this ancient material—it connects you to the ingenuity of our ancestors in transforming the ground beneath their feet into beautiful and empowering declarations of individual and collective identity.
Shop our ceramic jewellery
Necklace: responsibly sourced sterling silver, glazed black ceramic, cultured freshwater pearls, ethically sourced 2.4ct golden labradorite from Springsure, QLD.
Inspired by our exquisite subtropical coastline, the Secluded necklace is another lovingly constructed piece from our Basalt Collection. This necklace pays tribute to our precious shoreline, with hope that it remains secluded, pristine, and protected for decades to come. The ceramic and metal components of this necklace were all handmade in Bargara by Malki Studio artist Ariella Anderson. The stunning and highly dispersive 2.4 carat golden labradorite was ethically sourced by a local couple, Irvine and Maureen, who fossicked the rough stone from Springsure and beautifully faceted the stone by themselves.
The length of this necklace is adjustable from 49cm to 58cm.
Ring: responsibly sourced sterling silver and 9kt gold, copper, ceramic, ethically sourced Brazilian moonstone, tiger eye.
This sculptural ring comes from The Mourning Rings Collection. As the name suggests, this ring is intended to invoke a representation of deep and dark water at night, when illumination is provided only by the moon and stars. This brooding place is a profoundly ambivalent gateway to deep thoughts and feelings. The oxidised silver “wall” separates the inside of the ring from the outside like a mountainous ridge around a lake. The ring can therefore be worn in accordance with the wearer’s desire to engage with the ring’s conceptual intent.
The Black Lake was exhibited as a part of the Flow exhibition in the Brisbane Institute of Art. The exhibition, which occurred in 2023, was a members exhibition of the Jewellery and Metalsmiths Group of Queensland (JMGQ). It was also selected for artisan Collects (2022), a collaborative initiative between Malki Studio and artisan Gallery that invited collectors to explore jewellery as an art form. For more information, please click here.
Size: Q 1/2 (8.5). See our Sizing Guide.
Dimensions: 3.1cm x 4.1cm x 2.6cm.
Hook Earrings: responsibly sourced sterling silver, cultured freshwater pearls, glazed black clay.
The Secluded earrings were directly inspired by our exquisite coastline as a part of our Basalt Collection. The ceramic and metal components of these earrings were handmade in Bargara by Malki Studio artist Ariella Anderson. We’ve also paired these earrings with gorgeous pinkish pearls that add luminosity and the warmer tones we see in our twilight skies. While made as a pair, these earrings look equally beautiful when worn separately (in emphasis of the ceramic pieces’ unique form).
Length: approximately 7cm
Brooch: responsibly sourced sterling silver, glazed black ceramic, titanium, Burmite (Burmese amber (Myanmar), approximately 99 million years old).
This brooch draws direct inspiration from our exquisite Queensland coastline and is a part of our Basalt Collection. The ceramic component was handmade in Bargara by Malki Studio artist Ariella Anderson. The brooch also features a luscious and warm amber from Myanmar which is approximately 99 million years old. Completely fabricated by hand, the main part of the brooch is made of responsibly sourced sterling silver while the pin that secured the brooch to your clothing is titanium that has been heat coloured in blue. The contrast of the blue ceramic and warmth of amber evokes the skies we see over our Bargara studio, which has been a rich source of inspiration.
Approximate dimensions: 5.5cm x 4cm x 2.5cm.
Necklace: responsibly sourced sterling silver, glazed black clay, oval cut citrine (32 carat).
Inspired by our exquisite subtropical coastline, the Barolin Rocks necklace pays tribute to our precious shoreline, with hope that it remains secluded, pristine, and protected for decades to come. The ceramic and metal components of this necklace were all handmade in Bargara by Malki Studio artist Ariella Anderson. The stunning 32 carat citrine in this necklace evokes the dramatic sunset, which accentuates the deep blue waters and black volcanic rocks of the region in which Malki Studio artists live and work. The Barolin Rocks necklace is a distinguished artwork, and has been displayed in several exhibitions including in Government House, where it formed part of a showcase of Queensland's artistic excellence.
Barolin Rocks was exhibited in Queensland’s Parliament House in 2022 as a showcase of Queensland’s artistic excellence, curated by artisan Gallery.
Drop Earrings: responsibly sourced sterling silver, glazed black ceramic tiles, repurposed amber beads, repurposed cultured freshwater peals.
This iteration of the Barolin Rocks series draws direct inspiration from our exquisite Queensland coastline as a part of our Basalt Collection. The ceramic components of these earrings were handmade in Bargara by Malki Studio artist Ariella Anderson. We’ve paired these earrings with gorgeous pinkish pearls that add luminosity and amber for the warmer tones we see in our twilight skies. While made as a pair, these earrings look equally beautiful when worn individually (in emphasis of the ceramic pieces’ unique form and texture).
Approximate dimensions: 2.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 2 cm
Necklace: responsibly sourced sterling silver, glazed black ceramic, cultured freshwater pearl.
The Cerulean Sky collar necklace is the capstone piece of the Cerulean sky series. Inspired by our exquisite subtropical coastline, the Cerulean Sky Necklace is an essential part of our Basalt Collection. This necklace features a solid sterling silver ring from which we’ve suspended an organically textured and glazed black ceramic tile. In homage to the wild beauty of the landscape and the creatures that inhabit it, we’ve paired the ceramic tile with a peach coloured pearl, which simultaneously recalls the dramatic skies that fleetingly pass over our home and studio. The ceramic and metal components of this necklace were all handmade in Bargara by Malki Studio artist Ariella Anderson.
*This piece has been sold. If you would like something similar, please contact us to start a custom order. Together, we’ll create something just for you!
Neck Adornment: fine white clay, sterling silver, cultured freshwater pearls.
Embrace is an artwork that combines the sculptural yet fluid character of ceramics with the luxury and elegance of pearls and silver. Resembling the soft, embracing, pleated fabric of scarves, the thin textured ceramic drapes about the neck and shoulders in a strongly feminine and sculptural manner. Two silver chains finished with big and beautiful freshwater pearls secure the ceramic sections in a closed position . The back of this piece is no less lavish over than the front, with a long silver chain and pearl hanging sensually down to the centre of the wearer’s back.
*If you are interested in purchasing this piece, please contact us prior to proceeding to checkout for information regarding shipping and size.
*This piece has been sold. If you would like something similar, please contact us to start a custom order. Together, we’ll create something just for you!
Art Object: white clay, oxides, and copper glazes.
Built of one solid piece of clay, the Sanctuary Collection allude to the precious need of all living things to have a place of safety, a place of refuge and wellbeing - a sanctuary.
The clay was textured using the foliage of a young Golden Cane palm and compressed into shape. It was then cut and hollowed out creating an internal hidden space.
Once fired, the vessel was further decorated using multiple glazes and layered oxides through multiple firings in order to achieve the iridescent shimmering surface.
It is about finding that fine balance between the elements, but always about reaching a place of safety.
Necklace: black ceramics, titanium, copper, brass, sterling silver, fluorite, garnet beads, cultured freshwater pearls.
This necklace comes from our Basalt Collection. Basalt is a hard and darkly coloured rock formed by the flow of lava. In Bargara (Queensland), where Malki Studio is based, basalt rocks cover much of our coastline, setting a colour palette of dark grey/black and blue which we find delightful. In tribute to our natural surroundings, we have created the Basalt necklace, which features textured black ceramic beads, blue heat coloured titanium, pearl and garnet beads, and a large central blue-green fluorite set in oxidised copper and brass.
Necklace: responsibly sourced sterling silver and fine silver, hand built black clay vessel, 1.45ct blue green apatite from Madagascar, African iolite, Edison pearls, repurposed and responsibly sourced copper (oxidised, stabilised), 13 garnet beads, clear quartz crystal.
The Containment Vessel series is a suite of small hand built ceramic vessels, produced primarily in the ancient form of amphorae (traditionally used to store wine, oil, or other fluids considered precious in the ancient world). They each serve a mystical or magical purpose aimed at protecting their owner through the power of containment.
The Emunah Containment Vessel refers to the Hebrew word “Emunah,” meaning “faith,” not necessarily in a religious context but in the sense of placing trust in something greater than oneself. This containment vessel is thus an offering, an encapsulation of faith or trust in something divine, be it a deity, nature, or something else.
This piece was exhibited in Elemental, an exhibition by the Jewellery and Metalsmiths Group of Queensland (JMGQ), held in 2024 at the Metcalfe Gallery in the Brisbane Institute of Art.
Approximate necklace length: 73cm.
Approximate vessel dimensions: 6cm x 4cm x 4cm.
Brooch: responsibly sourced sterling silver, 5.4ct boulder opal from Winton (Queensland), textured black clay.
This brooch was especially created for display in the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery’s shop for the Linda Jackson: Opal exhibition. A retrospective exhibition of Linda Jackson’s “opal era,” this exhibition features a vivid collection of the famous Australian fashion designer’s iconic and colourful garments and textiles from the late 1970’s to the present.
In homage to Jackson’s elegant yet simple silhouettes as well as the wild, unique, and arresting aesthetic of opals, Malki Studio artist Ariella Anderson has streamlined the components of this brooch. Asymmetrical but harmonious, the brooch features a stunning Winton boulder opal and textured black clay set directly onto sterling silver. These components highlight the contrast between the gleaming white metal and the earthy black clay and colourful gemstone, which display an oceanic blue play of colour set against the dark body tones of the ironstone matrix. The brooch recalls the dramatic beauty of the Australian land and the importance of preserving its unique and precious resources.
Choker Necklace: Australian jasper (mookaite), ceramic tiles (white clay), freshwater pearls, garnet beads, responsibly sourced sterling silver.
After The Woman In Gold is a unique choker necklace inspired by the famous Gustav Klimt painting after which it was named.
It features a large central stone called Mookaite (Australian jasper) that is shouldered by handmade ceramic tiles. The robust geometry of the textured tiles is accented by the delicate freshwater pearls and garnet beads that dangle elegantly between the tiles.
This is a considered statement piece made in collaboration between Malki artists Ariella and Adam Anderson.
After The Woman In Gold was exhibited in Queensland’s Parliament House in 2022 as a showcase of Queensland’s artistic excellence, curated by artisan Gallery. This piece was also selected for artisan Collects (2022), a collaborative initiative between Malki Studio and artisan Gallery that invited collectors to explore jewellery as an art form. For more information, please click here.
This piece was also featured in the prestigious 2023 Mayo Festival at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School, Brisbane — an invitation-only showcase honouring alumna Daphne Mayo (1895–1982), the pioneering Australian sculptor whose work, including the monumental Brisbane City Hall tympanum, helped usher Australian public art into the modern era.
Dimensions: 41.5cm x 5.6cm x 0.3cm
Bracelet: black clay, brass.
The Irons bracelet is a unique and chunky member of our Basalt Collection. Its name draws on both the iron-rich basalt that inspires the series and the historical wrist “irons” that hint at restraint and weight. The bracelet pairs a single black ceramic form—smooth in places, textured in others—with two oxidised and etched brass elements on the opposite side. The hinge opens and closes with an elongated brass pin attached by a handmade chain. The small golden eyes mark the moment of connection between the wearer and the earthbound materials from which the piece was made.
This piece was selected for artisan Collects (2022), a collaborative initiative between Malki Studio and artisan Gallery that invited collectors to explore jewellery as an art form. For more information, please click here.
This bracelet fits a medium to large sized wrist.
Inside width: 7cm.
Necklace: responsibly sourced sterling silver, white and black clay, stone beads.
This necklace comes from our Basalt Collection. Into The Wild celebrates the primordial, tangible, and tactile nature of clay. Raw and made of literal earth, the chunky black and white clay components of this necklace rest comfortingly and warmly against the wearer’s skin—thereby also acting as a conduit between the wearer, the Earth itself, and the extensive history of humanity’s use of this material. Two large beads with beautiful patterns connote animalistic surfaces and textures of the landscape, which evoke the wild spirit at the heart of this necklace.
This piece was selected for artisan Collects (2022), a collaborative initiative between Malki Studio and artisan Gallery that invited collectors to explore jewellery as an art form. For more information, please click here.
The ceramic and silver components of this necklace were handmade by Malki Studio artist Ariella Anderson.
Necklace length: 57cm
Hook Earrings: responsibly sourced sterling silver, glazed black ceramic, cultured freshwater pearls.
These earrings are an offering from our Basalt Collection. Celebrating the unique and wild beauty of the natural world, each earring in this series is like no other. Great as a pair or as a single earring, the Cerulean Sky and Secluded earrings range is a wonderfully versatile addition to any jewellery collection, a balance of style and luxury.
Dimensions: approximately 7cm x 2cm x 0.5cm.
Art Object: fine white clay with chrome oxide wash, barium glaze, recycled and responsibly sourced sterling silver, oval cut 8.6 carat Brazilian amethyst.
The Sanctuary vessel was carved from a single slice of clay. The piece was exhibited in Phantom Response (2023), an exhibition held at the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery and created in response to the Phantom comic hero. Ariella made the Sanctuary vessel in the immediate aftermath of the October 7th massacres in Israel, choosing to focus her artistic response on the human need for shelter, protection, and tranquillity.
Dimensions: 15 x 8 x 7cm.
*This piece has been sold. If you would like something similar, please contact us to start a custom order. Together, we’ll create something just for you!
Necklace: responsibly sourced sterling silver, heat coloured titanium, rough mookaite jasper (Western Australia), and glazed black clay tiles.
The Mooka Creek Collection pays tribute to the only known source of mookaite jasper, a microcrystalline form of quartz from Mooka Creek, Western Australia.
Varying levels of chemical impurities give mookaite jasper dramatic desert hues and patterns which recall the untamed beauty of the Australian land. The close relationship between mookaite jasper and the Australian land is strengthened by the use of ceramics, which similarly comes from the ground and bares contrasting colours and textures inspired by the emotional landscapes of this land.
Contained within a set of jewellery pieces, the Mooka Creek Collection tangibly connects the wearer with the land, giving respect to the unconquerable earth beneath our feet and the savage beauty of the skies above our heads.
*This piece has been sold. If you would like something similar, please contact us to start a custom order. Together, we’ll create something just for you!
Necklace and Earring set: heat-coloured titanium, responsibly sourced sterling silver, responsibly sourced fine silver, glazed and textured black clay, amber beads.
Inspired by our exquisite coastline and handmade by Malki Studio artists in our Bargara studio. This one-of-a-kind statement necklace and earrings embody the colours and richness of our piece of paradise.
Necklace: black and white clay, responsibly sourced 14 karat yellow gold beads, silk cord, responsibly sourced sterling silver, responsibly sourced fine silver. Orca necklace 2 includes a lapis lazuli bead.
Part of the Basalt Collection, these necklaces are a quiet tribute to the land shaped by volcanic forces in the Bundaberg region. Crafted from a blend of black and white clay, the unique marbled patterns that run through each necklace are not applied, but revealed—formed naturally as the clays are worked together by hand. The surface is smooth and cool to the touch—shaped by hand and hardened through firing.
The interplay of light and dark in the clay reflects the shifting tones of the natural world—stones, shadows, bone, and ash—drawing subtle inspiration from the animal kingdom. Each necklace is finished with 14kt gold beads, sterling and fine silver closures, and a pure silk cord, combining organic form with refined details.
Grounded yet bold, the Orca necklaces speak of endurance, of place, and of the intimate connection between the body and the land. They carry the memory of the earth.
Approximate length: 50cm