Hello Everyone….I hope all had a Happy Mother’s Day and found or made some magnificent pieces to give to their mothers'.
I would like to discuss a piece that I have completed that I call "Around the World”. I believe because beads come from every corner of the world throughout history that in some small way beading unites all of us.
This piece includes beads from Africa, China, Czechoslovakia, India, Japan and the U.S. The pendant bead is a Chinese wood carved bead. This type of bead would be the base bead for a cinnabar finish. The center of the bead is carved with the Chinese double-happiness sign. What a lovely thought for a gift.
The turquoise on the top and the two others on either side are from India.
Turquoise, the blue gemstone was worn by Pharaohs and Aztec Kings and is one of the oldest gemstones known. The name turquoise may have come from the word Turquie, French for Turkey, because of the early belief that the mineral came from that country (the turquoise most likely came from Alimersai).
In any case, the turquoise is found in mines across the world and historically prized by many. In our fashion today it is worn mostly in the summer, usually mounted with silver, reminding us of the Native American style. In the case of this necklace, I decided to pair it with earth colors because of the many veins found in these particular stones.
The small glass beads surrounding the bottom of the center turquoise are manufactured in Japan. They were strung on a memory wire and the wire was bent to shape the stone. The pendant is attached to the strung necklace by the wire and actually “swings” from the stone. Included in the rest of the necklace are carved wood beads from Africa. Ceramic beads from the U.S. and I end the necklace with multi-faceted high-fire polish beads from Czechoslovakia.
All in all, I feel that this necklace can circumnavigate the globe.
Thank you for looking and for your very appreciated comments. Keep them coming!
4 comments:
I just wanted to say, I think this is a beautiful necklace, and even more so, it is a beautiful idea! I love the thought that art of any kind can unite the world and be a learning experience for those who participate. It's great that you know so much about the beads you use, and that you are willing to share your knowledge!
Dear Meredith,
Thank you so much for your lovely words. It makes me feel very good to know that people like you are out there and that you understand my intention of this blog and the power of beads.
In the future I will be posting other information having to do with beads and how they have helped many people in different ways.
Thank you so much,
Harriet
The beads and gemstones made necklace is really fabulous one
I love the multiculturalness of your bead! I especially loved learning about where turquoise came from! We have a few cinnbars here at www.stonesandfindings.com with different patterns like the one you used in your necklace. We even have cinnabars in fan shapes as well! I hope to make a necklace as pretty as yours in the near future!
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