LAPPONIA ANNOUNCES JEWELRY DESIGN CONTEST

Lapponia Jewelry OY of Helsinki, Finland, is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a jewelry design contest. The contest is open to all designers under age 35 who live in most western European nations, the U.S. and Japan. Entries must comprise a set of three to five pieces of jewelry consisting mainly of precious metals and gemstones.

Sketches or photographs of entries for preliminary judging must be submitted by Nov. 15. Finalists will be notified by letter and must submit the finished pieces by Feb. 16.

Lapponia, the leading Scandinavian producer of art jewelry, was founded in 1960 by Pekka Anttila, whose aim was to manufacture and market individualistic jewelry. Lapponia’s objective for the contest is to provide young designers with a forum to present their work and to foster a greater appreciation and knowledge of contemporary artistic jewelry.

For information about the contest, contact Marjukka Sorvari in Helsinki at (358-0) 146-4500, fax (358-0) 146-2878.

The company’s U.S. distributor is Lapponia Jewelry, 1462 Chestnut Ave., Hillside, N.J. 07205; (908) 687-1224, fax (908) 688-0128.

MJSA SEEKS ENTRIES FOR AMERICAN VISION AWARD

The Manufacturing Jewelers and Silversmiths of America has issued a call for entries in its 1996 American Vision Award. The annual jewelry design competition recognizes the innovation and imagination of independent and student designers across the U.S.

Entrants have until Jan. 12 to submit renderings of completed jewelry in precious metals, with or without gemstones. Awards will be given in two categories: professional and student. Eligible professionals include MJSA Guild Members and independent designers not employed full-time by a manufacturer; student entrants must be enrolled in an art or design program at a college or university.

Winners will be announced and the winning entries displayed at the MJSA Expo New York in March. Winners in both categories will receive a Steuben Glass award; the top student winner also will receive a scholarship/stipend.

MJSA, One State St., Providence, R.I. 02908-5035; (800) 444-MJSA.

R.I.T. STUDENTS WIN AWARDS

Six students at the Rochester Institute of Technology School for American Crafts received 1995 Arthur King Goldsmith Awards for their gold and silver creations.

The contest, named in memory of New York goldsmith Arthur King, awards a first prize of $500, two second prizes of $250 and three honorable mentions. Jen Townsend won first place; Stephanie Muka and Melissa Sciera won second place; and Angela DuLac, James Francis and Yun-Ryoung Lee won honorable mentions.

Students work with gold lent by Hoover & Strong refiners. At the end of the semester, the students buy the gold outright or return the pieces to the refiner to be melted and reused.