What’s New in Jewelry no.2

Some of the best jewelry articles from February and the  beginning of March.

1. Antiques and Auctions

>>Prices for JAR Jewels Soar at Sotheby’s Important Jewels Sale in New York

Informative article by Jewels du Jour.

>>Travel Inspiration & Antique Jewelry from 1stdibs

Inspiring beautiful European churches and vintage treasures from 1stdibs

>>Sotheby’s to Auctions “Perfect” 100-Carat Emerald Cut Diamond in April

 >>Sotheby’s Fine Jewels Sale – London – March 18th, 2015

About the future Sotheby’s auction: one of a kind jewels and gorgeous jewelry designs.

>>A Preview of TEFAF Maastricht 2015

A must see article – Maastricht becomes the capital of art.

Van Cleef & Arpels Necklace of Oriental Inspiration – 18kt. gold, platinum, emerald, rubies, brilliant cut diamonds.Van Cleef & Arpels Necklace  – 18kt. gold, platinum, emerald, rubies and diamonds.

2. Fashion

>>Lorraine Schwartz, famous american jewelry designer

Links to some of her red carpet masterpieces.

>>The Jewelry art of Yoko London – Bafta Savoy London

See some of the best jewels with pearls and diamonds.

>>Oscar Jewelry Recap – Academy Awards 2015

Fine article about the red carpet ladies and their jewelry choices.

3. Jewels of the month

>>More treasures from VicenzaOro Winter 2015

Magnificent jewelry compilation by Diamonds In The Library

Diamond and pink gemstone collar necklace by Pasquale Bruni Diamond and pink gemstone collar necklace by Pasquale Bruni

I hope you like it. Till next time.

What’s new in jewelry

This is the first number of a weekly newsletter that is proposing to feed you with some of the latest articles in the jewelry domain.

1. Antiques and Auctions

>>Incredible Egyptian Revival Jewelry Sale from Alex Cooper Auctions

Find out what jewels Alex Cooper Auctions have to put for show and sale on February 5th, 2015.

>>Touring the Winter Antiques Show 2015

See rare and unique jewels present at this exhibition.

Gold panagia and chain by Faberge

Gold panagia and chain by Faberge

>>Gem Gossip Visits Heritage Auction Headquarters in Dallas, TX # LoveGold

About the third largest auction house in the world and their treasure.

>>Off to the Original Miami Beach Antique Show

Visit the home of antique jewelry.

>>Jewelry Road Trip: Alana Antique & Estate Jewelry in Seattle, WA

See some of the magnificent jewels present here and find out how the business started.

 2. Fashion

>> Gems for gentleman

See some fine brooches for men and follow the links for more.

>> The best red carpet jewelry at the Screen Actors Guild Awards 2015

Find out more about the jewelry choices made by the actresses at SAG Awards.

3. Jewel of the week

>> I heart this Edwardian sapphire and diamond ring

Fine article about a fabulous ring recently sold by Lang Antique.

Edwardian sapphire and diamond ring

Edwardian sapphire and diamond ring

For the end see the best places to shop online for jewellery recommended by Gem-A-Porter.

I hope you enjoy it. See you next week with the latest and hottest findings.

Chainmaille and Wire Wrapped Jewelry Findings no. 4

Time for my fourth “Chainmaille and Wire Jewelry” monthly newsletter – and this month comes with some great finds.

Free Jewellery Tutorial by cueKat – how to make a wire wrapped pendant with beads.

Latasti Model – nice chainmaille model by Nárrína.

Five-strand spiral braid necklace – how to make a spiral wire wrapped necklace with end caps and S-hook clasp.

Viperscale Tutorial – learn to make an interesting chainmaille weave.

 

I’ve just discovered the artwork of the amazing Korean wire sculptor, Seung Mo Park, and felt the need to share it. Made from aluminium wires wrapped on fiberglass forms, the detailed sculptures gives the impression that are about to come to life. Take your time and enjoy it 🙂

If you missed last months newsletter, check it out here.

Until next time.

10 Great Jewelry Findings no. 3

 Time for my third “10 Great Jewelry Findings” monthly newsletter – and this month comes with some great finds.

Ear Pendant (Kathija; 19th century); India; The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A Greek gold necklace with a gold and garnet lunate pendant (circa 2nd-1st century B.C.); Christie’s

German parcel gilt silver beaker (1659-1663), Augsburg; Sotheby’s 

Ring with engraved oval bezel with heraldic bulls (1600 – 1300 BC); Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Gold Bell in the Form of an Eagle Warrior, Aztecs; The Hermitage Museum

The Webb Zebra Bracelet by David Webb

A Viking Silver Crucifix (10th – 11th AD); Christie’s

Byzantine Gold and Garnet Earrings (5th-8th century AD); LiveAuctioneers

Gold ring (17th century); India, Deccan; The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A seed pearl and gem-set headdress (hiyout;  19th century); Morocco; Sotheby’s

That brings us to the end for this month – if you liked these great finds, pop over to the Email signup and subscribe to receive the next one in your inbox.

If you missed last months newsletter, check it out here.

Chainmaille and Wire Wrapped Jewelry Findings no. 3

An entire month has passed since the second “Chainmaille and Wire Wrapped Jewelry Findings” Newsletter – so let’s get right into the third – March edition.

Basic Weaving Techniques – thanks Gailavira for this fine tutorial.

Triangle – how to make a chainmaille triangle. I’ll try it for sure 🙂

Scrolled Style – three tutorials on how to make scrolled wire connections.

Beaded Cluster Earrings – teaching you how to make nice chainmaille earrings with beads.

And for the final…some chainmaille fashion.

If you’d like to get the next installment of this newsletter a month from now – go ahead and subscribe to my email newsletter on your left.

Until next time.

Precious Stones Newsletter no. 2

Another month has passed and the second number of the Precious Stones Newsletter is out.

If the first number was an introduction in the magical mineral world, this one will focus more on interesting links about precious stones.

Gemstones Index – stones from A to Z.

Inclusions in gemstones – fine photo slide with different types of inclusions in gemstones.

The quality and the prices of rubies and sapphires – fine important articles about some of the most wanted precious stones.

Sapphire colors

And for the finish…this beautiful precious stones butterfly collection.

Hope you enjoy it 🙂 Don’t forget to subscribe to receive the next number of the series.

10 Great Jewelry Findings no. 2

An entire month has passed since the first “10 Great Jewelry Findings” Newsletter – so let’s get right into the second – February edition.

 

Gold headdress frontal (1st – 7th century), Colombia, Yotoco; The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Cameo with a helmeted warrior carrying a snake on his shield (17th – 18th); Sotheby’s

Silver amphora (4th century B.C.), Chertomlyk burial mound, Ukraine; The Hermitage Museum

Diamond Lioness Ring by David Webb

Reliquary of Mary Magdalene (14th – 15th century), Tuscany, Italy; The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A Greek gold, glass, and stone necklace (circa 2nd-  1st century B.C.); Christie’s

One from a pair of royal gold earrings (ca. 1st century B.C.); India; The Metropolitan Museum of Art

St. Nicholas. Pectoral icon (cameo –11–12th centuries, mounting – early 15th century); Vladimir Suzdal Museum

Smallsword of Col. Marinus Willett (1740–1830); France, Paris; The Metropolitan Museum of Art

French Tiffany & Co. Platinum Diamond Brooch; Lang Antiques

And that brings us to the end of this months newsletter – some absolutely superb items this month.

If you’d like to get the next installment of this newsletter a month from now – go ahead and subscribe to my email newsletter on your left.

Until next time.

Chainmaille and Wire Wrapped Jewelry Findings no. 2

Time for my second “Chainmaille and Wire Jewelry” monthly newsletter – and this month comes with some great finds.

Butterfly Bangle! – nice tutorial, showing us how to make wire butterflies for bracelet and earrings.

Triangular Chain Bracelet – fine step by step chainmaille tutorial 🙂

Carnival pendants by Gailavira

Carnival Pendant – detailed wire jewelry tutorial, many thanks for the author for sharing this with us.

Viking Knit Bracelet Tutorial – amazing! I’ll give it a try.  

 

And the artist of the month is….IMNIUM 🙂

That brings us to the end for this month – if you liked these great finds, pop over to the Email signup and subscribe to receive the next one in your inbox.

If you missed last months newsletter, check it out here.

The Scythian Gold Pectoral from Tovsta Mohyla

This article is about The Scythian Gold Pectoral from Tovsta Mohyla, an ancient artifact that left me breathless from the first time I saw it.

For the Scythians the most sacred and valuable places were their burial grounds. They consisted in kurgans (burial mounds), each of them reflecting the social ranking of the dead.

Judging by their height, the burial mounds are classified in six categories:

  • 1 m tall for the common poor Scythians
  • 1,5 – 3 m tall for rich people
  • 3 – 5 m tall for tribal elders
  • 5 – 7,5 m tall for local rulers
  • 7,5 – 11 m tall for high Scythian aristocracy
  •  14 – 21 m tall for Schythian kings and members of the royal family.

The priests resting places are an exception. They are very well hidden, to prevent the act of profanation and the stilling of their sacred objects.

Believing in life after death, the Scythians were buried with their belongings. Along side Herodot’s writings, the archaeological findings from the kurgans are the most important facts left about the Scythian way of life.

Boris Mozolevski with The Scythian Gold Pectoral

Boris Mozolevski with The Scythian Gold Pectoral 

The gold pectoral was found in Tovsta Mohyla, a large Scythian royal kurgan, by the archaeologist and poet, Borys Mozolevsky, in 1971.

Combining several eastern and western jewelry technics (casting, filigree, enameling etc.), this 4th century BC artwork is the best Scythian pectoral ever find. Well balanced and symmetrical, this master piece has a diameter of 30,6 cm and a weight in gold of 1150 g.

Many believes that the pectoral was commissioned by the Scythian king and that was made by a Greek goldsmith.

The Scythian Gold Pectoral

This fine gold pectoral comes as a story about the Scythian people, combining images of domestic life, with others of nature and wildlife, and with those of mythical creatures, in which they believe.

Three tiers forms the crescent-shaped pectoral. They are contoured by four hallow tubes of twisted gold, who are graduating decreasing through the end.

 Left side of the pectoral    Right side of the pectoral

                              Both sides  of the pectoral showing a great symmetry

The ends of the pectoral are made from bands of gold, decorated with palmette motifs. The clasp is no less impressive, being constructed from two gold lion heads with rings in their mouths.

Left end details of the pectoral

Left end details of the pectoral

The Scythians were fierce nomadic people, but also good traders and lovers of art. Their best friend, the horse, is pictured from the beginning, as a new born, and also in death (devoured by the griffins).

The inner band, which shows peaceful productive events, contrast with the exterior tier which picture death scenes. It’s nothing unusual, because the Scythian way of life was the combination of these two.

Two Scythians making a sheepskin coat

Two Scythians making a sheepskin coat

Despite their bloody reputation (exterminators, human sacrifices, the making of drinking cups from enemies skulls etc.), the Scythians know to value a good peace and they were in trading relations with their neighbors. Some domestic life activities are shown on the inner band of the gold pectoral. In the center we have two long-haired bearded men who are stitching a fleece between them, probably making a sheepskin coat. They are wearing Scythian trousers and their basic weapon, the bow, is also present, inside adorned quivers.

The two Scythians are flanked by pairs of horses and cows with their youngs.

The different hair style of the Scythians suggest that they might be members of different clans.

                                                                                                         Scythian with headband    Braided hair Scythian

Cow nursing calf

On the left side we have a cow nursing her calf and a new born foal with his mother.

Horse nursing foal

On the right side we have a horse nursing her foal and a new born calf with his mother.

Respecting the symmetry, they are followed by two young kneeling Scythians with their sheeps, one on each side.

Young skiff with amphora

On the left side a young Scythian with an amphora is pictured, near his sheep.

Young skiff milking his sheep

On the right side we have a young Scythian milking his sheep.

Domestic birds - left side

Next, on each side, the daily life episode is finished with goats and their youngs, and domestic birds.

Right side

The middle register comes as an ode to the beauty of nature.

Center details

Center details

Plants, worked in round or in high relief, birds and blossoms (once enameled) are creating an amazing scene on a plate of gold.

Left side details

Left side details

Right side details

Right side details

The third tier of the gold pectoral shows their fascination for the wild life, their beliefs, and also their predator mentality.

Center pair of griffins

In the center two griffins are devouring a horse. They are flanked by other two pairs of griffins that are attacking horses.

Left pair of griffins

Left pair of griffins

Right pair of griffins

Right pair of griffins

Next, on the left side, a lion and a leopard are bringing down a stag.

Left leopard and lion

On the other side a leopard and a lion  are attacking a boar.

Right leopard and lion

In the same symmetry hounds are hunting hares on each side. And finally, in the corners, two pairs of insects facing each other.

Right side details big

Right side details 

This amazing ancient masterpiece can be seen at The Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine, in Kiev.

Precious Stones Newsletter – Minerals, Rocks & Fossils

This is the first of a monthly Newsletter on Minerals, Rocks and Fossils and it contains links to some of the best sites in the domain.

Even if is just a drop in the vast and magical world of stones, this one, cumulated with the future ones, may end up as a sea of knowledge 🙂

Rocks and Fossils Gallery – nice collection of rocks and fossils, followed by interesting information about them.

Les macles – fine article about the twin crystals formations.

Geminterest – if you want to learn about stones inclusions, this is the right place to be 🙂

That Crystal Site – a comprehensive guide to crystal metaphysical properties and stone meanings.