The following is an extract from Judith O'Callaghan's 'Helge Larsen and Darani Lewers - a retrospective', NGV, Melbourne, 1986, pp.8-9: The partnership between Helge Larsen and Darani Lewers has few parallels with contemporary Australian craft. They were pioneers of the modern jewellery movement in this country, and after 25 years the partnership still retains creative momentum. Each is an accomplished designer-maker and their work relationship is one of true collaboration both in terms of ideas and execution. The association began in 1959 when Darani walked into Solvform, Helge's workshop in Copenhagen, and asked for a job ... as in Australia she had found it impossible to locate a jeweller who would take on a female apprentice. Encouraged by her parents Gerald and Margo Lewers, both successful artists, she attended a jewellery course part-time at East Sydney Technical College. Her most valuable training, however, was gained through her working association with Estonian master-jeweller Nina Ratsep during 1958 at Ala Buttons, Sydney... By October, she had assembled sufficient pieces to mount a one-person exhibition at David Jones Art Gallery in Sydney... Helge Larsen was already a qualified jeweller when he entered [a student exchange] program [1955-57], having completed a four year apprenticeship with a large Copenhagen jewellery firm, Viggo Wollny, as well as a two year diploma course in art and design at the Guldsmedehojskolen (College of Art and Design), Copenhagen... In 1957 Helge returned to Cophenhagen and after a short stint as a salesman in a jewellery store he purchased an old shirt shop with fellow jeweller Harald Jensen, and converted it into a combined workspace and shop which they called Solvform. In the beginning the partners survived by selling directly to jewellery stores, but before long their own shop window was attracting a substantial clientele. At its height in 1959 Solvform supported three full-time workers and both partners. Darani stayed at Solvform for nearly a year from 1959 to 1960. As hoped, she was able to develop her technical skills most particularly those of forging and fabricating. In the beginning she worked purely on designs provided by Helge and Harald Jensen, but by the end of her stay she was working through her own ideas... Although happy at Solvorm, Darani eventually decided to return to Australia having been persuaded by her parents that there was enormous potential in this country for craftworkers offering good contemporary jewellery design. Helge arrived in Sydney ... in 1961. Shortly after, he and Darani were married and within weeks they had set up their first workshop in George Street, The Rocks. They were to live and work there for the next few years before moving to the residence and workshop at Seaforth which they still occupy. By August they were in a position to mount their first jewellery exhibition at Macquarie Galleries in Sydney... James Gleeson of 'The Sun' ... wrote: 'The exhibition ... is stimulating as a collection of fine sculpture. Indeed, many of the necklaces, pendants, rings and brooches reflect in miniature the highly wrought sophistications of the work of Arp or Brancusi ... sensitive taste, high craftsmanship and an active imagination have been combined to make these objects into works of art.' It was also during this first year of their partnership that Helge and Darani were invited by Graham Hughes to participate in the 'International Exhibition of Modern Jewellery 1890-1961', in London. [The next year they exhibited at The Johnstone Gallery, Brisbane.] End of extract. These were the first items of contemporary jewellery purchased for the QAG. It was only with the 'Survey of Contemporary Australian Craft' (the metalwork/ jewellery section of which was selected by Darani Lewers) that other contemporary jewellery acquisitions were made.