German born jeweller Rainer Beneke gained a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1978 and moved to New Zealand in 1984. In 1990 he became a NZ citizen and began training as a jeweller, first working with goldsmith Blair Smith then completing the first year of the Craft Design programme at Otago Polytechnic School of Art. In 1998 he joined Ann Culy at her Dunedin gallery/workshop Lure where they spent 23 years working alongside each other.
Rainer treasures the ancient techniques of European gold & silversmiths and finds meditative joy in the process. His work is inspired by the calmness and clarity of the vast Central Otago landscape with its rugged tussock covered mountains.
From 2023
Pendant - 2023, forged, pure silver, braided polyester cord 45 x 22 x 5mm $500
Pendant - 2023, forged, pure silver, braided polyester cord 55 x 23 x 5mm $500
Pendant - 2023, forged, pure silver, braided polyester cord 52 x 22 x 5mm $500
From 2022
Ring - 22ct gold with 0.5ct diamond, E, SI1, (GIA report available), size Q $14,800
From 2019
Pendant, fine silver $500
BOOM There's nothing biblical about being stuck in traffic
Pendant, fine silver, fine gold rivets, 18ct gold toggles $1,800
BOOM
Pendant, fine silver $450
BOOM When your head hits a pillow of soft feathers
All pendants on braided polyester cord. Words from 'Better to burn out', a poem by Iain Cheesman, 2017
From 2017
 Noughts and Crosses
Pure silver pendants $380 each
Pure silver, 22ct gold and diamond pendant $4,600
From 2016
Ring - 22ct gold, 0.266ct diamond D S12 size L) $4,980
Ring - 22ct gold, 5 black & 4 white diamonds (size N½) $2,800
Ring - 22ct gold, 0.175ct black diamond (size M) $2,600
From 2015
Pendant: "For your touch" $440
Pendant: "Anchor me in the middle of your deep blue sea" $480
Pendant: "Here I am with every muscle aching for your touch" $480
Materials: Pebbles from Sandy point Invercargill, pure silver, braided polyester
Words by Don McGlashan
1. Stater, pure silver, sterling silver toggle $320
2. Aureus, pure gold, 18ct gold toggle $1,880
Now is the golden age
3. ½ Thaler, pure silver, sterling silver toggle $400
I was looking back to see
If you were looking back at me
To see me looking back at you
4. Hecte, pure gold, 18ct gold toggle $580
Listen
5. Tetradrachm, pure silver, sterling silver toggle $400
8 4 8 4 / If there is a fork in the road, take it
6. Stater, pure silver, sterling silver toggle $320
Take more time, cover less ground
7. Thaler, pure silver, sterling silver toggle $520
8. Stater, pure silver, sterling silver toggle $320
Hunger for sense not cents nonsense
9. Tetradrachm, pure silver, sterling silver toggle $400
And others haven’t a clue what time it is
or where it goes or even where the clock is
10. Drachma, pure silver, sterling silver toggle $220
Kicking up mischief / walking the wire
11. Dinar, pure gold, 18ct gold toggle $1,180
If not now / when
12. 1 oz Bullion, pure gold, 22ct gold toggle, diamond $7,800
When do we lose the ability to step back and get
a sense of our own ridiculousness
13. Aureus, pure gold, 18ct gold toggle $1,880
Listen to the drums beat
14. Solidus, pure gold, 18ct gold toggle $1,180
Abundance / not what we have but what we enjoy
15. 1 Hecte and 5 Hemihecte, pure gold, 18ct gold toggle $2,400
16. Solidus, pure gold, 18ct gold toggle $1,180
True idleness takes courage
17. ½ Thaler, pure silver, sterling silver toggle $400
A conversation punctuated by leisurely
comfortable silences
18. Thaler, pure silver, 18ct gold toggle $800
Superman you are tired
Superman you need a rest
from all the constant flying
and bullets bouncing off your chest,
the world goes on without you
we’ll be all right without you
for a while SJD
19. Stater, pure silver, sterling silver toggle $320
20. Late Bezant, pure gold, 18ct gold toggle $980
Seize the day
All pendants on coloured polyester cord / braid
From 2014
Beads for Contemplation $5,400
Amber, gold, diamonds
From 2013
Necklace $4,800
Pure and sterling silver, 22ct gold, diamonds, sapphires, rubies
From 2012
Earrings 22ct gold, with ten diamonds $2,400
Earrings square 22 ct gold with two diamonds $1,140
Earrings 22ct gold, with two rubies $1,980
From 2011
Homeland series, words from 'Another day in America' by Laurie Anderson
1 Pendant, SILENCE $380
2 Pendant, WONDERLANDS $380
3 Pendant, TIME $380
all pendants pure silver
From 2010
'12 Links' necklace $2,400
Sterling silver, 22ct gold
From 2009
Bracelet $4,400
Stg silver, 22ct gold, 18ct gold catch, 0.3ct sapphire, 0.36ct oval ruby, 0.17ct diamond
From 2008
1 Gold cross pendant $2,140
22ct gold, ruby, braided polyester
2 Silver cross pendant $340
Pure silver, braided polyester
From 2007
'Making Waves' Pendant $340
(Perm it/ curl curl curl)
Pure silver, braided polyester
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