Beate Pfefferkorn, creator of Elementaris, has devoted her practice to exploring porcelain as a primary medium for contemporary jewellery. Her work doesn’t revolve around a single central piece, but rather the dynamic interplay of many meticulously crafted elements.

Her relationship with clay began in early childhood. A summer workshop introduced her to the campus of Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design—an encounter that shaped her future path. In 2002, she began her studies in the university’s ceramics department, where she trained in foundational design techniques and developed a parallel interest in observing and interpreting nature through material.

During her studies, she discovered a particular affinity for small-scale forms. This led her to dedicate her diploma to the theme of ritual jewellery, resulting in large, ceremonial necklaces composed of hundreds of moving porcelain beads—pieces that later became a signature of her practice.

Her work has since been exhibited widely, earning recognition in competitions and exhibitions around the world. A pivotal moment in her career was a working scholarship in China, the birthplace of porcelain. There, her focus expanded toward large-scale, site-specific installations rooted in repetition—creating “jewellery for rooms” alongside jewellery for the body.
Beate Pfefferkorn currently lives and works in Dresden, Germany.

Elementaris does not use porcelain as mere decoration, but as a fundamental, form-giving material. Each piece emerges from the arrangement of countless individual porcelain components. Only when these elements are brought together do they come alive—forming a unified, breathing whole.

Repetition is central to the making process. Through the continual reiteration of specific hand movements, similar yet never identical parts take shape. This rhythm ensures a shared language across all components while preserving their individuality; every slight variation and every subtle fingerprint is embraced as an integral mark of the hand-made.

The material itself plays a crucial role. Porcelain begins as a soft, pliable substance that can be shaped with exceptional delicacy. Once fired at 1250°C, it transforms into a hard, luminous material that is not only visually striking but also unexpectedly comfortable to wear.

As the pieces move, their components create gentle sounds—each jewellery work carrying its own distinct acoustic signature depending on the arrangement and form of its parts. Colour variation further enriches the compositions, where vivid tones sit harmoniously alongside pure, unglazed white.