Barney Bubbles

Category: Nick Lowe

  • The Cracking Up Pendant is available now!

    This pendant is a standout in the new Barney Bubbles Jewellery collection and is of course based on one of the designer’s most recognisable artworks, the smiling hand featured on the front cover of Nick Lowe’s 1979 single Cracking Up.

    7in sq sleeve for Nick Lowe’s Cracking Up/Basing Street, released on the British independent label Radar in May 1979
    The ident appeared in music press adverts for the single, though the spot colour used in the inkies lessened the impact of the original
    Bubbles had more control over colour balancing for the Cracking Up poster, which measured 50 x 75cm

    Made from an original, hand-built master using mixed metals, the pendant is cast in recycled silver and finished with a stainless steel chain. Part of an open edition, each piece is individually cast and hand-finished, resulting in subtle variations that make every necklace one of a kind.

    Each pendant is packaged in a bespoke box featuring the toothy smile, which Bubbles appropriated from a photograph of the late keyboardist Bob Andrews (Brinsley Schwarz/The Rumour), who played on the track and others from Lowe’s  album Labour Of Lust.

    Each Barney Bubbles Jewellery piece includes the ‘© BB’ mark of the Barney Bubbles Estate

    The Cracking Up Pendant is £100 and available from the Barney Bubbles Jewellery shop here.

  • The Barney Bubbles Jewellery Shop is good to go!

    We’re really pleased to announce that after months of tests and tweaking we’re launching the Barney Bubbles Jewellery range!

    Click on the image above to check out the Barney Bubbles Jewellery Shop featuring the exciting launch collection consisting of a baker’s dozen of pieces including badges, brooches, pendants and earrings.

    These are based on the design maestro’s stunning artworks for a range of artists from space rock through punk and new wave, including Dr Feelgood, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Nick Lowe, Hawkwind, Johnny Moped, John Cooper Clarke, Ian Dury & The Blockheads and Rockpile.

    We’ll be featuring the stories behind individual pieces here over the coming weeks, with insights into the origination of each design and the ways in which it has been realised in 3D.

    Prices range between £25 and £120 for the Barney Bubbles jewellery collection, which is shipping worldwide and is a collaboration between the Barney Bubbles Estate and sculptor/jeweller Blaine Hurdle.

    Check out Blaine’s work here.

  • Norman Maslov on The Wild World of Barney Bubbles on Youtube

    Artists’ agent and passionate music lover Norman Maslov has posted a 10 minute journey through The Wild World of Barney Bubbles on his Youtube channel, augmented by examples of original and reissue record sleeve and poster designs from his collection.

    Watch above and here.

  • Original artworks sell for £20,000 as Barney Bubbles’ collectability soars

    ++ This 1977 felt tip on paper sketch for the debut album by The Damned together with the stickered limited edition LP fetched £6,120 ++

    The first-time sale of original artworks by Barney Bubbles in yesterday’s Bonhams auction achieved close to £20,000 in total, with one item – the original design for The Damned’s 1977 debut album – scoring a winning bid in excess of £6,000.

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  • The Hamer & Sickle artwork is up for sale

    ++ Barney Bubbles’ ‘Hamer And Sickle’ photography paste-up, 1979. Dimensions: 25.5 x 29.3cm ++
    ++ The four appearances by the logo on the inner and outer sleeves of Nick Lowe’s Labour of Lust LP ++

    The photographic paste-up of one of Barney Bubbles’ most notable designs is among the late designer’s incredibly rare and highly collectible artworks included in the online sale currently being conducted by international auction house Bonhams.

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