Renaissance Reproductions’ chief designer Ron (Merlin) Lippard is a Renaissance man in the truest sense of the term. With forty-two years of experience he is a master machinist, an artist and lapidary. Ron spent 5 years teaching adult education and currently has been teaching for the past two years with the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. Ron has dazzled us with his slate carvings and the magical way that he takes local area stone and shapes the into a continually changing array of unique, one of a kind jewelry. However it doesn't end there, after turning raw amorphous pieces of stone into fine jewels, he then sets to work on his custom settings. Never satisfied with what is mass produced on the market he insists on a much higher standard of quality. Each piece that leaves his bench is a true work of art. It is a pleasure to see him at his craft whether it is working rough stone, carving, making a setting ,creating the very tools to bring his art to life or training his young apprentice in these age old crafts, it is truly a magical adventure.

Renaissance Reproductions’ owner, Ina Lippard, has been a designer and maker of jewelry most of her life. Having worked many years as a designer and consultant for several boutiques in Palm Beach, Florida, Ina now puts all of that creative energy and know how into the design, creation and repair of jewelry. Watching Ina at her bench can be compared to watching the great masters working with paint and canvas, she takes each bead and stone as if it were a painters pallet and works it into a piece that is as much a masterpiece of color and light play as it is a piece of jewelry. Her skill and talent don’t end there, not satisfied with the easy fix on jewelry, Ina’s demand for quality above all else places her in that long forgotten class of Victorian master jewelers. Ina still hand strings pearls and other fine gemstones on silk and hand knots them. No fancy gadgets just fingers and a pair of tweezers moving with a fluid grace that can only be compared to a gently flowing stream. Whether repairs, a custom design, or that antique set of grandmother's pearls that have been sitting in the bottom of the jewelry box awaiting to be given back their former glory. If they are put into Ina’s hands there will be no disappointment.

James is one of the newer additions to Renaissance. James is quite an enigmatic character, having spent the past twenty years as a master perfumer in his own business. James has been a hobbyist and semi professional jeweler and designer for as many years. He specializes in more primitive and Neolithic styles of jewelry as well as gothic styles, and the setting and mounting of stones. James has brought to us an interesting fusion of primitive and fine design, gothic and classic grace. He sees beads, pearls, and stones with an eye that is very different from most jewelers. Creating one of a kind pieces using combinations and elements that other people would simply never think to use. One can never be certain what creation will come from his bench but one thing is for certain, it will be different.

Chris, the youngest member of the team, and Ron’s apprentice, is another true Renaissance man. At 23 years old he is extremely well versed in all things technological, having run his own computer repair shop for 3 years. However computers and video games are not enough for this young man, with a keen mind and sharp eye he has quickly learned to turn his hand to metal and stone working. Working along side Ron he has learned to turn simple pieces of metal into custom made blades, jewelry findings and works of art. In a day and age of digital this and instant that, it is a welcome sight to see a young man expanding his horizons and learning the old crafts of working with his hands to turn metal, wood and stone into things of beauty and elegance.