A chronicle of the meanderings, false starts (which in retrospect, while sort of embarrassing turned out to be highly instructive), epiphanies, selective apathy (still evolving), wild mood swings, opinions (subject to frequent change), and life lessons of an inveterate dabbler (and her latest dabblings).

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Aegea

The globe-trotting, visionary directrice at Happy Mango Beads, Rudi Taylor, turned me onto their ancient Roman glass beads, and challenged me to dream up a design incorporating them. These glass disc beads are both beautiful and fascinating:

"This ancient Roman glass was found in the Nimroz province of Afghanistan and dates between 900 & 1200 years old, it was excavated 4-5 years ago. Glass has not been produced in this area for 900 years. The iridescence is caused by the centuries of decomposing and weathering of the hydrated silica (sand used in making the glass)."

Every one of the little pieces of artistic history in this piece is completely different--the hues vary from ephemeral celery to sea green to palest aqua; some are glassy clear like shallow coastal waters, and some are milky like frosted glass; some bear creamy accretions like sea spume and barnacles; some are chunky and rustic; some are delicate and wafer thin. Most are about the size of a penny or a nickel.


I wanted to make the most of the colors, textures and shapes of these glass wafers, and so decided to use them as you would a button, so that most of their surface would be showing. I fastened them onto a hand-forged base of sterling silver wire with ball headpins, reinforcing and embellishing them with other disc beads made of turquoise, bone, glass, and sterling silver. (You'll recall the necklace I did with brass, lampwork and wood discs recently--that was a bit of a prototype for this one):

  Roughly tumbled, watery aquamarines and bone beads in ivory seemed a natural compliment to these beads, as did deerskin lacing in a soft palomino color. Hammered, hand-formed beadcaps in nickel, and a pewter toggle clasp mirror the sterling silver wire.




"Aegea"

If you're curious how this necklace was created, check out the tutorial, and see more of Happy Mango Beads ancient Roman treasures.

14 comments:

  1. Really beautiful! And thank you for taking us on the creative journey for this piece. Love it!

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  2. My turn to: GASP!
    This is magnificent! Those glas beads are gorgeous just as they are, but what you have done with them is spectacular! Kudos.

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  3. This is the most beautiful necklace I have seen in a while!!!!

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  4. Such a beautiful piece. I love what you did. Thank you.

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  5. you did such a beautiful job with that glass... i have been looking at it for months... your design is truly stunning - always an impressive designer, you outdid yourself this time...

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  6. This is a stunner. Those beads are amazing and it's just lovely to see you move forward with that prototype. The sterling is gorgeous.

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  7. That is super cool! I think that any Roman miss would have been delighted to wear this. It has a history and an age that looks like it could have been unearthed. Well done! I am glad you took up the challenge!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  8. This is simply wonderful! What a great use of those cool beads. Congrats!

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  9. LOVE IT!!! Love the ancient Roman glass, but LOVE the piece you created! First, can I tell ya that you are such a wonderful writer! Your description of the glass had me drooling before I saw the pictures of your piece. And your piece is SO AMAZING. Seriously, the way it's constructed, the way you embellished it...love it. Just love it~~

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  10. I love Roman glass, I first saw in jewelry designs on a cruise a few years ago. Your necklace is amazing!!! I love how you featured the disk beads laying flat to show off all their wonderful colors and textures.

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  11. I looooove this design! I was wandering around over at Happy Mangoand I'm so happy that I found you and your meanderings. I'm excited to go look at more. Thanks for sharing the tutorial!
    Jen

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  12. utterly stunning..Love love the color palette and the mix of materials. You played each component like a song. :=)

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  13. This? This is GORGEOUS. I'm just sad your tutorial seems to have disappeared. I got to get my hands on some Roman glass now....

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