All Blog Posts (261)

Recently I learned that my favorite store in Greenwich Village has closed.  Along with the death of David Bowie, this was another cultural loss to mark the passing of my youth.  Back in the 1980s I sported spiked hair, purple lipstick and a pair of black shoes with silver skull buckles.  I always walked around with a…

When I visited Agadez in the Sahara a couple of years ago I brought some sketches from the wonderful study of Jewellery and Techniques of the Sahara by Jean Gabus 1939. I had these crosses made which were early variations on the theme of the Agadez cross. The maker came from a long line of cross makers and I watched fascinated as he formed the moulds in beeswax, heating the coals with his goatskin bellows, then sanding and smoothing it down afterwards and then finally etching the…

Professor Khalili is a world renowned scholar, collector, benefactor and philanthropist as well as a successful businessman. His collections, which consist of 35,000 items, include the arts of the Islamic World, Japanese art from the Meiji period, Swedish textiles, Spanish damascened metalwork and…

Bracelets, Dagestan, Kubachi, 19th century,

Silver, gilding, garnets, turquoise, carnelian

This post grew out of a rich discussion of a Bulgarian pendant posted by Cordelia Donahue and my own realisation that I needed a simple framework to help me think about the sources of ethnic silver. It is not meant to be authoritative but I hope it will be useful. Do please offer corrections and extensions.

Silver is classified as a noble or precious metal along with gold and platinum. All other metals, such…

Hello :)

Today we want to share with you some facts and info to help you understand the difference between  natural and synthetic gemstones.

Many people don't realize that majority of the natural gemstones are treated in the lab after they are mined. If you think about Tanzanite, for example, you will have an image of stunning purple-blue gemstone, but the truth is that this…

 with silver jewelery, Dagestan, Laks 19th century

http://www.identecojewellery.com/single-post/2017/01/12/Armenian-symbol-of-eternity

 Traditional Armenian jewellery has centuries-long history. Armenian women always liked wearing a lot of jewellery to match their colourful Armenian folk costumes called “Taraz”. Most of the jewellery was handmade of silver, it is passed from generation to generation.

One of the essential items for an Armenian woman in ancient times was a silver belt. It was usually decorated by turquoise, coral, amber or other semi-precious stones. Some considered a belt…

Jewellery is deeply connected and an expression of a personality.

Nonetheless, whereas some of the carefully picked pieces may surely be timeless and close to one's heart, it certainly doesn't mean that every once in a while, one can't try something new. So, how about setting aside those traditional diamond or gold ornaments and go for some contemporary pieces that can add an extra something to your style…

Dear bead threading friends!

 

Apologies for taking so long to get back with information about my one-day classes.

 

Bead necklaces are more popular than ever today- just look at so many TV presenters, wearing their beads...

 

I teach the most useful basics for threading bead jewellery including knotting techniques to a professional standard. The class includes…

BEAD SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING JULY 3rd 2016

friends- sorry i haven't been here for a while (i've been working on a bead collectors guide book -will announce when it's in print)

but wanted to let everyone know that the Bead Society of Great Britain's Annual General Meeting is coming up 0n Sunday 3rd July in the Headley lecture Theatre, Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2PH for members, or you can join at the door.

Some…

If you have ever wondered about the origin of the turquoise stones in a bracelet from Saudi Arabia or the little turquoise beads in an earring from Bukhara, you may be in luck. Arash Khazeni's book Sky Blue Stone: the Turquoise Trade in World History, published by the University of California Press in 2014, may supply some answers.

Khazeni describes how turquoise has been found in 'a wide sweep of mineral-bearing strata extending from Egypt through…

Penny book "is one of the traditional women's silver ornaments and some might attribute it as a type of" scalding "But there are differences between the" penny Book "and" scalding. "Vqrh" book "necklace adorned with a circular disk flat decorated. Gathering of its parts series silver or…

Today, I found one of my albums ('Festive Headgear') empty...   (I restored it in the meantime).  Can anyone explain to me, what could have happened?  I presume that I did something yesterday, with that result, but what?...

Thanks in advance.  With kind regards to all, Jean-Marie.