Bruce Tapley is a Jewelry Designer that excels in many styles of jewelry making. As a completely self-taught goldsmith, who does all his work himself, he was compelled by necessity to study a variety of techniques to attain his current level of proficiency. From his True Classics and Nouveau Estate Collections of intriguing wedding bands to his Hawaii-inspired Kula Jewels and the classical renditions of Reflections of Antiquity, an extensive series of exquisite pieces featuring prominent characters and themes of Ancient Greco-Roman, Etruscan, Celtic and Norse Mythology, most of Bruce’s jewelry transcends time.

Handling some of Bruce’s classical jewelry is like emerging from an archaeological dig with precious golden finds intact. The word ‘Classical’ is thrown around quite a bit these days, but these pieces truly define the word. That is: lucid, with correctness of style and order, and holding enduring significance. The emphasis here is on form, simplicity, and elegance. Bruce also sometimes defines classical as “something you just don’t want to turn away from, whether consciously or subconsciously. Something that captures the senses, and that gives a feeling of joy or comfort.” Wearing a fine piece of unique, well-made jewelry is a way of keeping this perception close at hand. “My desire has always been to create jewelry that never goes out of style.”

The Tapley Collection was established 94 years ago.

“My Father asked my Mother out on a first date. When he arrived, my mother was not quite ready and so her Father, my grandfather, who was sitting on the floor, poring over his collection of Native American artifacts that he had found, asked my Father to join him. They became so engrossed that once my mother was ready, she sat and joined them. They never went out on their first date. At the end of the evening, my Grandfather handed my Father several arrowheads. The next day, my Father bought a notebook and wrote in it, ‘”I started this collection Spring 1931, and created a logo of a Triangle with a ‘T’ inside. The logo that I still use to this day. My Father eventually became a well-known collector of Antiquities and Artifacts and started the New Jersey Arms Collectors Club in 1947. He passed away in 1965, when I was 15.”

The Collection languished for 6 years, and then in 1971, Bruce discovered that his path opened to him in a serendipitous manner. He was rummaging through his mother’s basement when he discovered an old box behind a false wall. Upon opening the box, he found an extensive collection of late 18th Century Italian Intaglios or reverse cameo carvings. The carvings were placed there about 20 years before by Bruce’s father.

A trip around Europe had exposed Bruce to many of the greatest museums as well as the ubiquitous art and architecture. “I was very impressed by the form, structure and strength of columns, and the fluidness of decorative art patterns such as the Greek Fret Key, Egg and Dart, and the Rolling Wave.

“When I opened that box of carvings, they jumped right out at me! Besides knowing that I could learn to make a new career out of my new find, it was also a way for me to connect with my Father who had passed away several years before.”

As Bruce was learning to become proficient in his new craft, he had a horrible accident that changed the course of his career. A mistake using a power saw caused him to tear apart the palm of his right hand. A large scar criss-crosses his hand like a map of the tributaries of the Mississippi River. He almost lost his hand, but with some quick thinking and a great surgeon, he was able to turn the experience into a positive one. “My life seems to be a series of defining moments. As I was losing consciousness, I realized that I was in the throes of paying some heavy dues, and I decided then that if I were lucky enough to regain any use of my hand, that I would devote myself to becoming the best jeweler that I could be.” After more than 40 years, Bruce has begun to regain feeling in his hand. “Once I recovered from the accident, the fact that I had limited use of my hand never really bothered me. I used it as a motivational factor.”

Bruce knows that people are very emotionally tied to their jewelry, whether it’s your first heirloom from parents or grandparents, a class ring, sweet sixteen or an expensive wedding set. When you are in the middle of your day and can look and see the pieces that you adorn yourself with, it gives you a sense of form and continuity. Jewelry is something that can actually make you happy every day, even if in very subtle ways. ” This, to me, is how I feel when I create my classical pieces. My artistic career has been a quest to reach classical ideals. I’ve always had a strong desire to create things that would be around long after I’m gone, as my legacy, so to speak. This is why I choose as my medium precious metal and stone. And now, well over 50 years later, I’m still thrilled to be doing it every day. Some of the research that Bruce has done on his father’s carvings has revealed an interesting phenomenon. The carvings that were made 200 years ago were inspired by ancient gold coins of the realm, some from as far back as 2600 B.C. And now, 4600 years later, Bruce is returning these images to their original precious material…Gold. Full Circle.

Bruce says that living and working on Maui feels very close to his idea of the archetype of the Artist in Ancient Civilizations that is not found in most of the rest of America. I thank Maui and Pele for allowing me to thrive here. “Hawaii resembles the Greek Isles to me, and Santorini in particular, especially living on the side of a volcano. It resonates with the fire below the surface which in turn produces such fertile soil. This, to me, stimulates creativity. I hope to be here doing what I love most for a very long time.”