Barbara Garwood
This month we are featuring Barbara Garwood's beautiful jewelry, handmade in Mongolia, using ancient traditions and techniques. Barbara's jewelry was on display (and worn) at the Academy Awards celebration. You may recognize Elain Hendrix from The Parent Trap, in the picture with Barbara.
Experience the Art...Compliments Included (TM)
- MONGOLIAN STYLE
FILIGREE AND ENAMELED JEWELRY HANDMADE WITH A RUSSIAN AND CHINESE
INFLUENCE FROM THE PAST 1000 YEAR PERIOD OF HISTORY.
- THIS JEWELRY WAS
MADE FOR THE MONGOLIANS ORIGINALLY AND THEN FILTERED INTO WHAT IS NOW
CHINA. EVENTUALLY IT WAS MADE DURING THE 1700’s, THE QING DYNASTY, FOR
ONLY THE EMPRESSES AND MANUFACTURE WAS VERY LIMITED.
- THE TECHNIQUE
UTILIZED IS SIMILAR TO THAT USED TO MAKE ORIGINAL FABERGE EGGS WHICH
WERE MADE OF GOLD, SILVER AND PRECIOUS STONES. THESE PIECES ARE STERLING
SILVER WITH SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES AND SOME ARE 24KT GOLD PLATED.
- THE FILIGREE WORK
IS HAND FASHIONED WITH TWEEZERS AND THE STERLING SILVER WIRES ARE SHAPED
INTO FLOWERS, BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER SUBJECTS. THESE COMPLETED
COMPOSITIONS ARE FIRED IN A KILN TO APPROXIMATELY 1700°F TO BE FUSED
TOGETHER WITH SILVER DUST. THIS CREATES THE BODY OF THE PIECE TO WHICH
THEN ENAMEL COLORS AND STONES ARE ADDED.
- THE OUTLINED
DESIGNS ARE THEN FILLED WITH A VERY FINE GROUND ENAMEL POWDER. THE
COLORS ARE BLENDED TO CREATE SPECIAL EFFECTS AND THE PIECE IS ONCE AGAIN
SUBJECTED TO THE KILN AT A TEMPERATURE OF 1500°F FOR BRIEF FLASHES OF
TIME. THIS TURNS THE ENAMEL INTO GLASS WITH A HIGH GLOSS FINISH WITH
PERMANENT BEAUTY. THIS POINTS A TEST TO THE ABILITY OF THE CRAFTSMEN
SINCE THE SILVER BODY COULD MELT DOWN AND ALL THE FILIGREE WORK LOST.
- THE LAST STEP IS TO
SET THE STONES AND TO 24KT GOLD PLATE OR ANTIQUE MANY OF THE PIECES. I
USE MANY UNUSUAL STONES SUCH AS CHRYSOCOLLA, RHODOCROSITE, CHRYSOPRASE,
WATER SAPPHIRES, BLACK STAR OF INDIA AS WELL AS SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES
SUCH AS GARNETS, LAPIS, AMETHYST, MADEIRA CITRINE, ONYX AND TURQUOISE.
- EACH ARTIST HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY TRAINED IN THE BASIC TECHNIQUES AND OVER TIME THEY BECOME CONSIDERED MASTER CRAFTSMAN. BECAUSE THE FILIGREE AND ENAMELING SKILLS ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT ABILITIES AN ARTIST IS TRAINED IN ONLY ONE OR THE OTHER. AS A RESULT SOME ITEMS REQUIRE TWO ARTISTS TO COMPLETE ONE PIECE.
