Meab and Clair of Meab Enamels
Art and science in harmony
Did you ever see a unique piece of art or jewelry, hear the story of how it’s made, and then say to yourself: ‘how on earth did they think of THAT?!’ And so it is with the story of Meab, the inspiration behind Meab Enamels and a proud partner of Baileo.
Inspired by Fabergé
The Meab story started over 50 years ago, when a young Meab O’Neill set out on her travels around Europe. She was inspired by what she saw from Fabergé (and the famous enamel eggs) to the works of local crafts people who were able to re-use all kinds of materials to create unique and vibrant designs.
She became fascinated with the ancient process of enameling, particularly on jewelry. The earliest archaeological finds from ancient Greece date from 1600 BC. Enameling on metal is extremely hot work requiring temperatures above 900 degrees Fahrenheit which melts the enamel creating an impermeable bond, a smooth surface and brilliant colors.
A unique process
Inspired and ready to create, Meab returned home to experiment with her own enamel designs and materials. “A pure metal is required for enameling, and we use recycled copper from old water cylinders,” explains Meab. “It takes several processes for the copper to be prepared before enameling. Then we use the ‘Open Fire’ technique that I developed, where each piece is fired in the open air and the design is created while the enamel is molten. This is when we create the unique swirling designs that our jewelry is famous for.”
Handcrafted with love
It doesn’t end there. “After firing, each piece has to be painstakingly cleaned on a grinder,” says Meab. “We make sure that each copper back is sparkling and that all the pieces are smooth to touch. This cleaning process is one of a number of finishing processes as we want to make sure each piece is crafted to the highest standard.”
And because of this individually handcrafted process, each designed piece is truly unique to its owner.
A family affair
Meab’s passion, knowledge and skill have been passed on to her daughter, Clair. They work together in their studio workshop on their farm in Multyfarnham in the midlands of Ireland. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Clair has developed her own individual style which she has used to create larger decorative pieces as well as collections combining silver, silver plate and other metal alloys.
A formidable pair
Meab and Clair have worked hard over the years to grow and expand their craft and their business. They started out selling their handmade jewelry in the ‘90s at local craft fairs and small stores in the West of Ireland. Since then, they have expanded their range of products bringing their creativity and imagination to a global audience with the help of another great innovation--the internet.
Meab’s and Clair’s jewelry collection combines eye-catching color in contemporary settings to create adaptable, affordable, and unique pieces. They have also translated the vibrant colors and designs from their unique enameling process to create a beautiful range of 100% silk scarves, which also carries their signature swirl design. The silk scarf range is a special favorite of the sisters of Baileo and our customers too.
We’re thrilled to partner with Meab Enamels and to contribute to their success. Another wonderful story from the talented artisans of Ireland.
Make it stand out
Our shop is a treasure trove of the very best in Irish art and craft including our range of Meab products.
The Irish name Meab is often associated with a fierce Irish warrior queen whose beauty was said to be ‘intoxicating’. The ‘b’ is aspirated and that can be done two ways in Irish; either by adding an h (Meabh) or the method preferred by Meab herself by placing a dot over the letter b - sadly our website font does not allow us to do that but regardless the name is pronounced like the anglicized Maeve (Mayve).
