Mark Davis, Master Craftsman. Life’s Too Short For Compromises
I thought I knew a lot about Mark Davis, master craftsman of Bakelite, that synthetic –resin chemically formulated plastic material of yesteryear. I knew his iconic cuffs and bangles, made in exquisite colors and embedded with precious stones. I knew his reputation for workmanship. I knew his irreverent and slightly self-deprecating sense of humor that puts a smile on my face because it reminds me that in his life, in my life, in all lives, stuff happens and the best-laid plans can and do go awry.
So when I had the opportunity to speak with Mark Davis the other day about his past and what inspires him, I was surprised to see that there was so much more I didn’t know about Mark Davis, a jeweler obsessed with the details of technology, manufacturing techniques and methods. Bakelite, for Mark, is not just any medium, but a medium he has come to understand and love, a medium from a different time and place – from the pre-1940’s before people started making jewelry with petrochemicals and petroleum products. Bakelite is 100% man-made, a material from a time when life was slower and things seemed to have more meaning.
Mark works the Bakelite like ivory, and, in fact, describes the material as post-modern ivory. Bakelite must be cast, each piece sliced, cut, shaped. It is a labor intensive work of love, with so many steps involved that pieces sometimes take months to complete. And because Bakelite is not currently made, it has to be collected from pre-existing sources, procured in whatever size, shape and condition it can be found in. Mark then , carves, reshapes and reconfigures the pieces to give them new life.
I also saw a side of Mark that reflected his devotion and dedication to the study of his art. At Parsons, where he went to study sculpture, he became interested in jewelry and pursued that field. Not satisfied, he went on to FIT to come to understand the technical aspects of jewelry-making. He became obsessed with how things were made, and the techniques used. At Christie’s, his next stop, he came to observe thousands of pieces of exceptional jewelry, and began to gain a real appreciation for technique and how essential it was to the ultimate success of any piece. He knew that he wanted to design and make his own jewelry, but also knew that he needed funds to be able to do it as he wanted. Thus, he enrolled at NYU where he obtained an MBA, and then worked at JP Morgan for a stint, leaving him financially able to work at his dream.
And in 1999, setting up shop in his apartment, his jewelry making began. It has grown largely and Mark’s name has come to represent quality, creativity, and technical sophistication. Mark Davis absolutely loves what he does – creating beautiful things and doing it well, and feels bad for those not able to spend their life doing something they’re passionate about. Life is too short for compromises. What Mark loves most is his ability to spend his time and energy laboring to make unique individualized pieces for just one person to have and enjoy.
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