Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about jewellery. Everyday jewellery. Its varied function and use. How these pieces intersect with our lives.…Thinking about the relational nature of jewellery.

This made me think of Dr. Madeleine Albright and her powerful and provocative collection/use of pins in her Diplomatic role as U.S. Secretary of State.

‘Read my pins’ is both a publication and exhibition of this collection and their stories. Here is a snapshot of some of these stories; of how this all started and of some of this collection.

A brilliant collection of jewellery and its stories and use of jewellery as signifier.

How it started…

Some of this collection… some of its stories…

Discovering ‘a bug’ planted by the Russians as a listening device in a conference room in the US State Department office, Albright wore a huge bug brooch during her next meeting with Russian officials. ‘They got the message’.

A menacing wasp worn during a meeting with Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat.

Wearing large American Flag brooch with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

Zebra brooch worn during meeting with Nelson Mandela.

Wearing jewellery with meaning; with purpose…

Brilliance!