In 1994 I went with my husband on what was then the holiday of a lifetime. We went to Rajasthan, and toured all around, visiting Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and then down to Agra to see the Taj Mahal before returning to Delhi for our flight home. We stayed in Maharaja’s Forts and Palaces which were their former homes. It was a life changing experience and one that has had a lasting effect on my work. I returned to India two years later and toured around Kerala which was also amazing but it was this first trip that really blew my mind and from where I draw much of my inspiration.
From the photos above you can see how I became fascinated with the colour, the architecture and of course, we can’t forget the elephants! You can never forget them!
The colours of the ladies saris; the patterns in carpets and on stone work all feed into my designs. I particularly love the idea of the old fabrics that are handed down through the family, have been handled many times and are slightly worn. I imagine them to be filled with stories and memories of people and places.
I like experimenting with layering patterns and colours in enamel, overlaying one with another to represent these layers of memories. It is a theme I have returned to many times over the years. My latest ones here use hand made decals combined with a final firing of gold lustre through a screen I made with a design from a Moghul ceiling, to add a subtle hint of pattern and sparkle on top.
I like to combine different colours with each other to really try to capture the spirit of what I saw and loved. India is full of colour!
Here are the finished necklaces. The enamels measure 30 mm in diameter and the silver settings are slightly larger. They are in my sterling silver ‘silver moon’ settings that are hallmarked by the London Assay Office. Some of the batch have already been spoken for but the remainder will all be with me at my next show with the Sussex Guild at Mickleham Priory 30 July, 1,2 August 2021. See here for more details.
They cost £75 which will include UK postage. I can post elsewhere just ask for a postage quote. Contact me if you are interested. I will put those that are left in my shop after the show.
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