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A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.

Very old Chevrons

Posted by Savanna Caravan on October 7, 2011 at 6:36pm
Lucky me! I found this handful of VERY old Chevrons - many broken, some intact, all beautifully eroded from hundreds of years in the ocean - near Murano, Venice. The glassmakers would throw the beads that weren't perfect into the water outside their furnaces. For hundreds of years they've been washing in and out with the tides. The beach is actually a billion pieces of glass, and I had to scratch around very carefully so not to cut my hands - or my feet. Turning over the newer glass, these beauties revealed themselves sometimes four inches below the surface, almost reluctantly! Several have seven layers. I have some red and black ones from the same source that have been repolished and look new, apart from the wear around the holes. But I really like the story of the perseverance of these magical miniature works of art.
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Tags: Chevron, Murano, Old, Venetian, Venice, beads, chevron, glass, layers, old, seven
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Comments

  • SARAH CORBETT October 7, 2011 at 6:46pm

    Now thats real treasure hunting x

     

  • Savanna Caravan October 7, 2011 at 8:37pm
    Alas - it's not possible to rush of to Venice and find them everywhere. The "beach" is private property, and I was invited there only because I am now living here and was introduced to the owner by Venetians who have worked in the factories and are ardent collectors!  
  • Toya October 7, 2011 at 10:26pm
    A rich photograph and a wonderful story! Will you highlight some of these treasures in your jewelry designs?
  • Savanna Caravan October 8, 2011 at 6:45am

    Ciao Toya.  I most certainly will highlight these.  They are tiny treasures:  I will probably just string them on silk with knots between ... using anything else will detract.  I'm going to make an album of my designs using old beads shortly, so will post these there as well.  I am going back for more next week, this time in wading boots!  You have an astonishing collection too.

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