Chinese Courtesan

The enamel and bone pendant is from a bracelet I scored with a few of these beauties dripping down.  It’s so rare now to find vintage Chinese jewelry and findings.  It’s always a joy when it happens!  I went for rich saturated tones, I love deep blues with ruby tones.

Woven chokers has remained my favorite necklace design to create and wear.  My process is weaving the base and next deciding on the pendant and center bead.  I have several little jars of beads I use for the side layers.   Typically, I work on 5-8 (chokers) at a time, moving from piece to piece so as not to over embellish all at once.  

When I first designed the chokers and started wearing them I treated them like were only to be worn at a party or something really dressy.  Now I wear one everyday. It’s my uniform.  I hesitated to call them chokers because they float on the neck. For most you forget you have it one …..but there is always someone to remind you of it gracing your neck because a compliment will likely spark.

hand woven Czech glass beads, enamel and bone pendant from China, brass and Turquoise beads from Nepal, raw Rubies, Coral, enamel, vintage trade beads, pearls, silk tie