A piece of the Ruhr Valley you can take with you: trained goldsmith Birthe Deilmann turned a dream into reality in 2020, founding her label birdykreativ. Since then, she's been handcrafting an array of accessories—all unified by one essential element—a deep connection to the Ruhr region, her native home as an Essen native. Deilmann showcases her work at trade fairs, city festivals, and through her online shop.

In her studio in Essen Kupferdreh, she creates bespoke music boxes, pit towels, ceramic vessels, and bags, each drawing inspiration from mining—the defining industry of the region. Take her pit towels, "Der Pott kocht" (The Pot Boils), for instance: each is a one-of-a-kind piece, with lettering applied via screen printing. Originally, miners used these cloths to shield bread and thermoses from fine coal dust underground; today, they're prized kitchen accessories, recognized for their distinctive checkered patterns. Her music boxes also celebrate the Steigerlied—arguably the most iconic miners' song across the Ruhr and throughout Germany. The mechanism sits mounted on a handcrafted oak board, finished with laser engraving. Turn the metal lever slowly clockwise, and the familiar melody fills the air. Coal cars are equally integral to the region's story: these transport vehicles once moved coal and stone from the mines. Deilmann reimagines them as delicate silver charms for keychains and necklaces. Her hand-blackened engravings, distinctly Ruhr in character, create a striking contrast against the matte silver.

www.birdykreativ.de

Photos:
Birthe Deilmann

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 04|22)