artists

every piece has a story, and every story begins with an artist

ŌTEPOTI DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND · CONTEMPORARY JEWELLER & SILVERSMITH

Mildred Leckie

Mildred Leckie is an Ōtepoti Dunedin-based contemporary jeweller and silversmith whose work reflects a close relationship with the southern landscape. Working primarily in silver, she translates organic forms, architectural structures and overlooked details from everyday life into tactile, wearable objects.

about

Mildred Leckie grew up in Ōtepoti Dunedin, where she continues to live and work.

Her practice is shaped by the landscape and natural environment of the South Island, alongside an enduring fascination with organic form, texture, architecture and the small details within our surroundings that can easily go unnoticed.

Through jewellery, Mildred interprets the world around her—transforming observation into material, form and objects designed to be worn.

Working primarily in silver, her practice is grounded in traditional metalsmithing while remaining intuitive and experimental. Rather than beginning with a predetermined outcome, Mildred allows the qualities of the material, the making process and close observation to guide the development of each piece.

She is particularly drawn to contrasts: strength and fragility, precision and irregularity, structure and organic form. These tensions create jewellery that feels considered yet instinctive, carrying traces of both the maker’s hand and the environment that inspired it.

Repetition and experimentation are central to Mildred’s process. Through the physical act of making by hand, material, form and concept gradually evolve together.

Mildred graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in Jewellery and Metalsmithing from the Dunedin School of Art in 2014, receiving the Con Hutton Scholarship.

Her graduate work was subsequently selected for the prestigious Marzee International Graduate Show in the Netherlands, marking an early connection with the international contemporary jewellery community.

Mildred’s practice continues to develop within an international context, including participation in Roma Jewelry Week 2026.

Her jewellery invites us to look more closely at the forms and textures surrounding us—and to discover how something quietly observed can become something deeply personal and wearable.

Because the details we almost overlook can become the ones most worth carrying with us.

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Sterling Silver, 22ct Gold and Sapphire Ring
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Sterling Silver, 22ct Gold and Sapphire Ring
$1,390.00

Mildred Leckie

Five sapphires bring shifting colour to a silver and gold ring with a secret for the wearer.

In her Sterling Silver, 22ct Gold and Sapphire Ring, Mildred Leckie combines a reflective silver band with the warmth of yellow gold. A larger blue sapphire sits in a gold setting beside a smaller green-toned stone, while three further sapphires are set into the opposite side of the band.

Designed with the wearer in mind, the ring holds some of its colour within the palm of the hand. This quieter detail invites a personal connection to the piece, revealing more than is seen at first glance.

A distinctive ring to wear on its own, allowing its contrasting metals and varied sapphire hues to take focus.

Luminous · Personal · Distinctive
Sterling silver and 22ct yellow gold · Five sapphires in varied hues · Ring size Q½ · Band 5 mm wide

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Sterling Silver Chain Bracelet
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Sterling Silver Chain Bracelet
$625.00

Mildred Leckie

Open silver links and an embedded cross detail give this bracelet a distinctive sculptural character.

In her Sterling Silver Chain Bracelet with Cross Detail, Mildred Leckie brings together elongated links with softly irregular contours. A cross sits within one oval link, creating a focal point that feels integrated into the chain.

The bracelet reflects Mildred’s interest in repetition, structure and organic form. Light catches along the silver edges, highlighting the subtle variations across the linked shapes.

A striking piece to wear on its own or alongside other favourite jewellery, where its open forms and cross detail can be appreciated up close.

Sculptural · Reflective · Distinctive
Sterling silver · Embedded cross detail · 23.7 cm long

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Pure Silver Ring with Rubies and Sapphire
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Pure Silver Ring with Rubies and Sapphire
$525.00

Mildred Leckie

Rich ruby red and deep sapphire blue bring small accents of colour to a softly irregular silver band.

In her Pure Silver Ring with Rubies and Sapphire, Mildred Leckie sets two rubies and a sapphire into a fused pure silver ring. The stones sit within the band, allowing its gently uneven edges and reflective surface to share the focus.

The piece reflects Mildred’s interest in precision and irregularity, with traces of the making process giving the silver its individual character. Turning the ring reveals each gemstone, offering details to discover from different angles.

A distinctive ring to wear on its own or alongside other favourite pieces, bringing together simple form, tactile silver and subtle colour.

Textural · Understated · Distinctive
Fused pure silver · Two rubies and one sapphire · Ring size P · Band 5.5 mm wide · $525

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Ash and Sterling Silver Chain Bracelet
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Ash and Sterling Silver Chain Bracelet
$575.00

Mildred Leckie

Locally sourced ash wood and textured sterling silver come together in a bracelet with a natural, tactile character.

In her Ash and Sterling Silver Chain Bracelet, Mildred Leckie pairs ash wood sourced in Ōtepoti Dunedin with textured silver links. The combination brings warmth and contrast to the piece, finished with a T-bar clasp.

The bracelet reflects Mildred’s interest in organic form, texture and the details of her surroundings. Her practice draws on traditional metalsmithing alongside an intuitive approach to materials, creating jewellery that carries a connection to place.

A distinctive piece to wear on its own, where the contrasting materials and textured links can be appreciated up close.

Organic · Textural · Distinctive
Locally sourced ash wood and sterling silver · 22.5 cm long · T-bar clasp

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found

in the rooms

finds

finds
Tourmaline Necklace
Tourmaline Necklace
$425.00

Mildred Leckie

Three colourful tourmalines gather in silver, bringing a luminous focal point to this delicate necklace.

In her Tourmaline Necklace, Mildred Leckie brings together warm reddish-pink, orange and blue-green stones in a clustered pure silver setting. Rounded silver claws frame each tourmaline, allowing their contrasting colours and translucent surfaces to take focus.

The softly irregular arrangement gives the necklace an organic character, reflecting Mildred’s interest in natural forms and the relationship between material and making. A fine silver-toned chain completes the piece, with a pure silver T-bar clasp.

A distinctive necklace to wear against a simple neckline, giving the stones’ rich colours room to shine.

Colourful · Organic · Luminous
Three tourmalines · Pure silver setting and T-bar clasp · Measures 23 cm from the back of the neck to the stone setting

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Pure Silver Ring with Sapphire
Pure Silver Ring with Sapphire
$425.00

Mildred Leckie

A single sapphire adds a quiet glimmer of colour to an organically shaped silver band.

In her Pure Silver Ring with Sapphire, Mildred Leckie sets a sapphire into fused pure silver. The band widens gently around the stone, with rounded contours and subtle surface marks giving it a natural, sculptural character.

The ring reflects Mildred’s interest in organic form and the balance between precision and irregularity. Light catches across the silver and the gemstone’s facets, drawing attention to small details within its understated design.

A distinctive piece to wear on its own or alongside other favourite rings, allowing its flowing shape and subtle colour to stand out.

Organic · Sculptural · Understated
Fused pure silver with sapphire · Ring size N · Band 6.7 mm wide at its widest point

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Pure and Sterling Silver Hoops
Pure and Sterling Silver Hoops
$395.00

Mildred Leckie

Hammered silver brings texture and character to a classic hoop shape.

In her Pure and Sterling Silver Hoops, Mildred Leckie combines generous circular forms with softly irregular edges and a textured surface. The silver catches the light across the hammered bands, revealing subtle variations left by the making process.

The earrings reflect Mildred’s interest in the balance between precision and irregularity. Their simple shape allows the material and surface to take focus, bringing a tactile quality to a familiar jewellery form.

At 4.5 cm in diameter, these hoops offer a bold finishing touch for everyday wear or a special occasion.

Textural · Timeless · Bold
Pure and sterling silver · Hammered finish · 4.5 cm diameter × 0.7 cm wide · Post and butterfly fastening

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