12 Questions with Zinna Rudman
We don’t beat around the bush when it comes to spoons. We love the damn things. So, when we first met Zinna Rudman, who was showcasing her handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces of contemporary jewellery - which just so happened to include two spoons (which we bought of course) - in Mexico City a few years ago, we knew it was a perfect match (or as our mutual dear friend Erick puts it, we “smelt a collaboration”).
An art restorer by trade, with specialisation in museums, museography, archaeological material and underwater archaeology, Zinna began working as a jeweller, crafting and designing 20 years ago in CDMX. Her experience in other fields unrelated to jewellery has led to her using non-traditional techniques and materials in her unique creations. Zinna hosts exhibitions of her conceptual designs and wearable objects in galleries and museums both in Mexico and abroad. A woman whose brand motto is “be nice or fuck off”, her designs are instantly recognisable by the signature red string attached to her handmade wabi-sabi articles that include spoons, wishbones and reading glasses that can be worn around the neck. She is pretty fearless when it comes to her work and the results speak to that.
We were buzzing when Zinna agreed to work with Nubes in creating the sugar spoon. Made of copper and emerald, and limited to 6 spoons (which can be worn as a necklace), the process took many months and variations to achieve the final result. After initial ideas were shared, Zinna began with sketches before creating prototypes of different sizes, starting from extra large until the perfectly petit spoon that exists today was achieved. Each part of the spoon was separately created and moulded onto the other parts before being set with a beautiful emerald. When we picked up the spoons at her studio in Mexico, it was pure elation. Below we share some photos of the making of the spoon for you amigos, along with our interview with Zinna.
Zinna in her studio wearing the very first rendition of the sugar spoon (prototype 1).
When and why did you venture into jewellery making?
It was about 20 years ago, and it started as a hobby. I've always loved jewellery and wanted to make my own because I rarely found something that I liked; I've always believed that the accessories you wear make a personal statement.
Does your background of archaeology and restoration creep into or overlap with your current job at all?
Yes, my background as a restorer and my specialty in archaeology have shaped my tastes, and my knowledge of different manufacturing techniques has helped me implement them in my current practice.
How would you describe your jewellery style?
My jewellery doesn't follow what's in fashion; they're pieces that anyone can wear. They're conversation pieces.
[We at Nubes can certainly vouch for that - we can’t count how many times we’ve been stopped when wearing our spoons and asked about them]
Are there any materials you are most interested in working with?
I like to use metal alloys that aren't common in jewellery making, at least here in Mexico, such as shibuichi and shakudo. I really like using copper in constructed pieces.
What is your creative process?
I think about a piece and see what the most appropriate technique is for making it. There may be changes along the way depending on the results. I've gone from making jewellery exclusively to making utilitarian pieces like spoons that can also be used as accessories.
What made you decide to recreate normal objects into wearable jewellery?
I became interested in spoons because of everything they mean in our lives; they're the first tool we learn to use. I thought it was fun to use them as an accessory; it's an object we all know what it is, what it's used for, and to give the object a new meaning.
A selection of Zinna’s spoons hanging in her studio in Mexico City.
What is your favourite spoon?
Spoons are like children, I don't have a favourite, I like them all for different reasons.
How did you create the sugar spoon for Nubes?
The spoons are constructed one piece at a time, meaning each part is sawed and/or forged and then welded. Once the piece is soldered, it is then finished with files, sandpaper and polished. Finally, a special setting is made for the emerald. The flecks you see on the copper are solder. Due to the intricate process, each spoon differs slightly, which gives them their own personality. The boxes that the spoons come in were made by a woman from Michoacán, who works specifically with wood.
What do clouds mean to you?
First a successful collaboration and then close friends with whom I would love to continue working with.
What’s your favourite colour?
Depending on my mood, I like black and blue in general. I'm more of a neutral color person.
Do you have any rituals?
Yes, I like to burn palo santo incense and leaves like sage, rosemary and lavender to cleanse my workspace. I also like to do a little research on the pieces I'm working on to get to know them better and even find out a fun fact about them.
Finally, how did you find working with Irish people/Nubes...?
It was a great pleasure working with you. I love your project. I like the idea that there is a person behind the garmets and giving them the value they deserve.
Nubes and Zinna Rudman in CDMX, Mexico City in March 2025.
“The Sugar Spoon” - Zinna Rudman for Nubes
Sprinkle caster sugar on pancakes, sift icing sugar on cakes and wear it as a necklace (or all of the above).
“The Sugar Spoon” - Zinna Rudman for Nubes
A limited-edition copper and emerald sugar spoon, handcrafted in Mexico City exclusively for Nubes by Zinna Rudman. True to the maker's ethos of creating wearable objects, it can also be worn as a necklace. Only 6 exist in the world.
The sugar spoon is inspired by a childhood memory of one half of Nubes - a perforated spoon that was used for sprinkling sugar atop her mother’s homemade butter-lemon pancakes. It later became lost but the memory lives on. The spoon has been reimagined in copper and set with an emerald. Each hole was carefully created in an angled square by hand, juxtaposing against the wabi-sabi nature of the handle. Sprinkle caster sugar on pancakes, sift icing sugar on cakes or wear it as a necklace by attaching the maker’s signature red string.
Handmade in Mexico City
Limited edition 6/6
Copper and emerald
Comes with signature red string
Presentation box handmade in Michoacán
Due to the handcrafted nature, each spoon can differ slightly