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  Rie Taniguchi

  Big Fish Owl

  Silver, enamel, fine gold, onyx, stainless steel spring, wood base

  Bird: 3.1" h x 1.4" w x 1.5" d
  5.9" h x 3.5" w x 1.8" d

  Photo: Joël Degen
  "Henry Seebohm named this owl after the English naturalist Thomas Blakiston, who collected the original specimen in Hokkaido, Japan in 1883. This owl’s habitat is dense old growth forest near waterways or wooded coastlines of the Russian Far East and Hokkaido, Japan. Mainly preying on fish and the occasional small mammal, amphibian, crustacean or other bird, they hunt mainly on the ground along riverbanks. They are the largest owls in the world and revered by the Ainu people of Hokkaido as a Kamuy (divine being) called Kotan koru Kamuy (God that protects the village)."

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  Rie Taniguchi

  Big Fish Owl

  Silver, enamel, fine gold, onyx, stainless steel spring, wood base

  Bird: 3.1" h x 1.4" w x 1.5" d
  5.9" h x 3.5" w x 1.8" d

  Photo: Joël Degen
  "Henry Seebohm named this owl after the English naturalist Thomas Blakiston, who collected the original specimen in Hokkaido, Japan in 1883. This owl’s habitat is dense old growth forest near waterways or wooded coastlines of the Russian Far East and Hokkaido, Japan. Mainly preying on fish and the occasional small mammal, amphibian, crustacean or other bird, they hunt mainly on the ground along riverbanks. They are the largest owls in the world and revered by the Ainu people of Hokkaido as a Kamuy (divine being) called Kotan koru Kamuy (God that protects the village)."

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  Rie Taniguchi

  Kakapo Island

  Sculpture (kakapo can stand on any of the three islands). Silver, enamel, onyx, stainless steel, resin

  Bird: 2.5" h x 3.5" w x 1.3" d
  .5" h x 6.7" w x 5.5" d

  Photo: Joël Degen
  "The Kakapo is the rarest, heaviest and also the only flightless and nocturnal parrot. They are possibly the longest living bird, with an average life span of 95 years, and have one of the loudest booming calls that can reach up to 5km. Sadly, Kakapo are now extinct on the main islands of their native New Zealand islands, but conservation efforts in the 1980s have led to ecological restoration to prepare self-sustaining ecosystems with suitable habitats for kakapo. These conservation efforts have resulted in surviving kakapo populations on three islands, Codfish (Whenua Hou), Anchor and Little Barrier Islands, which are represented by the green islands in this sculpture, Kakapo Island."

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Kakapo Island

  Sculpture (kakapo can stand on any of the three islands). Silver, enamel, onyx, stainless steel, resin

  Bird: 2.5" h x 3.5" w x 1.3" d
  .5" h x 6.7" w x 5.5" d

  Photo: Joël Degen
  "The Kakapo is the rarest, heaviest and also the only flightless and nocturnal parrot. They are possibly the longest living bird, with an average life span of 95 years, and have one of the loudest booming calls that can reach up to 5km. Sadly, Kakapo are now extinct on the main islands of their native New Zealand islands, but conservation efforts in the 1980s have led to ecological restoration to prepare self-sustaining ecosystems with suitable habitats for kakapo. These conservation efforts have resulted in surviving kakapo populations on three islands, Codfish (Whenua Hou), Anchor and Little Barrier Islands, which are represented by the green islands in this sculpture, Kakapo Island."

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Kingfisher (perched on copper tree on wooden base)

  Brooch on stand. Silver, enamel, onyx, stainless steel, gold foil, on copper and wood stand

  Bird: 1.4" h x 1" w x 1" d
  Stand: 5.1" h x 3.5" w x 2.8" d

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Rhino Head: My Horn Is No Medicine

  Brooch. Silver, stainless steel pin, enamel paint

  1.5" h x 1.7" w x .4" d

  Photo: Joël Degen
  Private Collection

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Sparrow

  Brooch with stand. Silver, enamel, onyx, stainless steel, gold foil on fabric pillow

  Bird 1.2" h x 2" w x .8" d
  Pillow: 1.2" h x 2.7" w x 2.7" d

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Donki Haute

  Convertible sculpture/necklace. Silver, hematite, 9K gold pin. Additional necklace parts: stainless steel cable, 9K gold hook, 18K gold screw.

  Donki: 3.4” h x 4.4” w x 1.5” d
  Haute: 2.4” h x 4.6” w x 1.9” d
  As Necklace: 15.7” long

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Donki Haute

  Convertible sculpture/necklace. Silver, hematite, 9K gold pin. Additional necklace parts: stainless steel cable, 9K gold hook, 18K gold screw.

  Donki: 3.4” h x 4.4” w x 1.5” d
  Haute: 2.4” h x 4.6” w x 1.9” d
  As Necklace: 15.7” long

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Donki Haute

  Convertible sculpture/necklace. Silver, hematite, 9K gold pin. Additional necklace parts: stainless steel cable, 9K gold hook, 18K gold screw.

  Donki: 3.4” h x 4.4” w x 1.5” d
  Haute: 2.4” h x 4.6” w x 1.9” d
  As Necklace: 15.7” long

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Angel Swifts & Brollied Swifts

  Earrings. Sterling silver with oxidation

  1" x .6" x .2"

  Photo: Joël Degen
  Brollied Swifts in Private Collection

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Polar Bear Pulling Dog Sledge

  Sculpture with three wearable dog brooches. Silver, onyx, stainless steel spring, acrylic, emerald, stainless steel pins, copper, fabric, MDF, polyester

  Bear: 5.9” h x 4.3” w x 3.9” d
  Huskies: 2.4” h x 1.6” w x .4” d each
  Sledge: 1.6” h x 8.5” w x 1.6” d
  Base: 1” h x 19.7” w x 6.7” d

  Photo: Joël Degen
  "'Polar bears can be playful… if they are well fed.' Despite shrinking habitats, polar bears maintain their cheerful and playful dispositions. This sculpture is inspired by images and video of wild polar bears playing with sledge dogs in Hudson Bay."

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Polar Bear Pulling Dog Sledge - Wearable Dog Brooches

  Silver, acrylic, emerald eyes, stainless steel pins

  2.4” h x 1.6” w x .4” d each

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Paridae Landing

  Earrings. Sterling silver, enamel, enamel paint

  .6" x .5" x .6"

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Paridae Taking Off

  Rings. Silver, enamel, enamel paint

  .8" h x .9" w x .2" d

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Ivory-Billed Woodpecker (pecking an antique mahogany chair leg

  Sculpture. Silver, enamel, onyx, 9 & 18K gold, stainless steel, wood, MDF

  Bird: 4.3" h x 1.8" w x 1.2" d
  Stand: 7.3" h x 3.1" w x 4.5" d

  Photo: Joël Degen
  "The ivory-billed woodpecker lives in thick hardwood swamps and pine forests with large amounts of dead and decaying trees in the Southern United States. They feed mainly on the larvae of wood boring beetles. Their power is legendary; as Tim Birkhead writes in Bird Sense: 'In 1794, Alexander Wilson shot an ivorybill in North Carolina. The bird was only slightly injured and Wilson decided to keep it. He checked into a hotel and left the bird in his room to take care of his horse. When he returned less than an hour later, he found the bed covered large pieces of plaster, the lath was exposed for at least fifteen inches square, and a hole, large enough to admit a fist, opened to the weather boards. Wilson caught the bird and tied a string around his leg and fastening to the table, again left him, this time to search for something it might eat. As he reascended the stairs, he heard him again hard at work, and on entering had the mortification to perceive that he had almost entirely ruined the mahogany table to which he was fastened, and on which he wreaked his whole vengeance. The bird refused all sustenance and, to Wilson’s regret, died three days later.'"

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Owlets in Nest

  Sculpture with wearable pendant or brooch. Silver, onyx, copper, stainless steel pin

  Birds: .8" h x 1.3" w x .6" d
  Nest: 4.3" x 4.5"

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Little Red Riding Hood

  Sculpture of young female wolf with removable hooded cape. Silver, citrine, stainless steel, silicone, fabric, brass hook

  5" h x 4.3" w x .5" d

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Little Red Riding Hood

  Sculpture of young female wolf with removable hooded cape. Silver, citrine, stainless steel, silicone, fabric, brass hook

  5" h x 4.3" w x .5" d

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Punk Kingfisher

  Silver, enamel, onyx, stainless steel spring, copper and wood stand

  Bird: 2.5" h x 2" w x .9" d
  Stand: 5.9" h x 8.3" w x 3.5" d

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Society Animals: Top Boy & Posh Girl

  Top Boy: Alpha male wolf, wearable as occasional necklace with removable hat, openable coat. Silver, blue topaz, stainless steel, silicone, fabric, gold foil, copper, resin.
  Posh Girl: Alpha female wolf, wearable as occasional necklace with removable crown and openable coat. Silver, peridot, stainless steel, silicone, fabric, gold foil.

  Top Boy: 7.9" h x 2" w x 1.8" d, plus chain
  Posh Girl: 7" h x 1.8" w x 1.6" d, plus chain

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Society Animal 1: Top Boy

  Alpha male wolf, wearable as occasional necklace with removable hat, openable coat. Silver, blue topaz, stainless steel, silicone, fabric, gold foil, copper, resin

  7.9" h x 2" w x 1.8" d, plus chain

  Photo: Joël Degen

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• Rie Taniguchi

  Society Animal 2: Posh Girl

  Alpha female wolf, wearable as occasional necklace with removable crown and openable coat. Silver, peridot, stainless steel, silicone, fabric, gold foil.

  7" h x 1.8" w x 1.6" d, plus chain

  Photo: Joël Degen

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The work of metalsmith Rie Taniguchi embraces nature. Her charming figures incorporate sterling silver, gold, semiprecious stones and ingenious spring-loaded designs. These playful commentaries on the animal kingdom include wearable elements, like the huskies below, and reflect Taniguchi’s interest in wildlife, the environment and traditional folktales.

Statement

“I make objects to look at or to wear, mainly in the shapes of various life forms, focusing on endangered species. I draw my inspiration freely from everything I see, read and hear. My main interests and concerns, aside from the arts, are in environment and wildlife. News, documentaries, folk tales and myths all come into consideration. I try to express the essence of life with satire and playfulness, portraying animals within their environments or in a situation when possible. The aim is to make it life-like rather than realistic. I am discovering that true animal forms are more fantastic than the fantastical and more challenging to make. Images from my childhood still influence me through the experience of making numerous drawings as I plan each piece. I draw from photographs, films and real life, before drawing from memory and designing. I have developed softer, more organic shapes using a mixture of techniques such as press forming, raising, constructing and carving with silver. I consider this group of work as an installation under a theme but I leave that theme obscured, encouraging the viewer to contemplate and reflect.”

Selected Public Collections:

• The Alice and Louis Koch Collection
• Numerous private collections throughout the United States and internationally