Kaminer Haislip talks about honoring loved ones through memorial silversmithing.

Kaminer Haislip is a contemporary silversmith based in Charleston, SC. She designs and hand crafts all of her metalwork, including functional home objects, jewelry, and custom commission pieces in silver and gold.

By Holly Roberson, Guest Contributor, Luxury Simplified

Kaminer Haislip, one of the great silversmiths of our era, had just popped around from her studio at Redux when we met up last week. We took our tea and mineral water to the courtyard at Kudu Coffee, a favorite local watering spot. Immediately after her first sip, I started with the questions. I had a lot that I wanted to ask her, but I had honed the list to a mere six dozen. But first, I had to know why she became a silversmith. Relentless curiosity demands satisfaction.

When Kaminer Haislip was growing up in Aiken, South Carolina, she spent a lot of time in her family’s hardware and appliance store. With so many intriguing items before her curious eyes, she was drawn to wonder at the shape and form of three-dimensional objects. She attributes this early experience as a direct influence on her interest in silversmithing. In high school, Kaminer began the exploration in earnest, becoming absorbed in sculpture and art jewelry.

A native of Aiken, South Carolina, KAMINER HAISLIP grew up in her family’s hardware and appliance business. This experience directly influenced her interest in creating three-dimensional objects and working with her hands. During high school she became enthusiastic about sculpture and jewelry and enrolled in an industrial tech class to learn to weld. Ms. Haislip studied under well known English silversmith Alfred Ward while earning her BFA and MFA from Winthrop University.