Arabesque Collar
©2019 by Cynthia Rutledge
In 1847 Louis-François Cartier (1819-1904) opened the first House of Cartier, becoming synonymous with exceptional gems, groundbreaking design and exquisite craftsmanship. Regarded as one of the most prestigious jewelry manufacturers in the world, this family-owned jewelry house has had a long history of sales to royalty. King Edward VII of Great Britain referred to Cartier as "the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers".
Primarily known for their work with diamonds, the firm designed lavish pieces, often incorporating other stones in new and unusual settings for contrast and color. The Golden Twenties witnessed an exceptional alliance of taste, talent and money. The House of Cartier reached dizzying heights of Art Deco splendor, and as with a lot of other houses during the 20's, flora and fauna was replaced with bold geometric shapes, juxtaposed or superimposed on one another.
Arabesque Collar is a meeting of materials, a collision of contrasts and a marriage of metal and glass. The word "Arabesque" refers to an Arabic or Moorish form of artistic decoration based on linier patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage or complex geometrical patterns.
Thin copper patina is the base of the central component, cut to an oval shape and decorated with a beautifully bezeled CZ, using peyote stitch. The CZ bezel is embellished with pearls and crystals, drawing the eye to this focal point. The metal form is simply bezeled, ending with a picot/netting flourish. Behind the scenes, there is a pearl cabochon "foot" added to support the metal structure on the collar.
Cubic right-angle weave, using fire polish beads, is used to create curved 3-D components that are then laced together to create a form-fitting collar that makes a statement! The collar ends in a simple closure, allowing the design to flow around the neck. Art Deco style meets the 21st century!
Skill level: Intermediate
Workshop length: This is a 1-day workshop for advanced students
Dimensions: This is a close-fitting collar. The central component measures 2.25 inches tall by 1.75 inches wide. The collar width is 1 inch by desired length.
Techniques:
Cubic right angle weave
Cutting 36 gauge metal and plastic
Embellishing techniques
Flat, even count peyote stitch with increasing
Punching holes in the metal shape
Tubular, even count peyote stitch
Netting