Jewelry Boxes: Gorgeous Inspirations from French Armoires

The French Armoire has a beauty to it that remains unrivaled to this day. The designs of these armoires have been so popular that several jewelry boxes over the years have been inspired from them. Armoire is a French word that was originally derived from the Latin one ‘armarium’ meaning a chest.

Armoires came into being from what were originally a series of shelves that were built into the wall and closed with wings or doors. As they evolved they became standalone pieces that looked like a series of chests placed on top of each other with some doors to close them. It was only by the 17th century that more attention came to be paid to their detailing.

In the beginning, these armoires were used in churches and monastries for religious purposes. The nuns used them for books and the priests used them in the sacristy for religious items like oil, vessels, and incense. A few of these are still around like the 13th century oak piece in the Bayeux Cathedral in France

The Cathedral of Noyon also has another well preserved armoire from this period. The Vestry of York has a great example of the perpendicular style of armoires. The way these armoires were decorated too began to evolve with time. There was a serious move from painting these surfaces to carving on them.

Some good samples can be found at Louvre but the best ones are at museums and exhibits in Cluny. A very popular designing element for the 16th century armoire was the linen-fold. England and America soon saw the arrival of the armoire. In its classic version, the armoire is an independent piece of furniture and has double doors that are beautifully carved.

Today, they are designed for a variety of storage purposes. There is the children’s armoire that is used as a toy cabinet. You also have the entertainment armoire that is big enough to hold a TV and all its associated paraphrenalia.

These individual armoires are also used as crockery cabinets, linen cupboards, as book shelves and more. Jewelry armoires are perhaps the prettiest of them all. These can stand on their own or can be wall mounted as well. These wooden structures can be carved ornately and give you a great way to store and show of your collection.

There are several styles that you can look into. The legs of the cottage style armoire are turned out and the design inspired from the colonial era. Finished in semi-gloss, the wood of this armoire is simple yet elegant. Pieces inspired from antique armoires have turned out legs as well. The carving and the style of decor is hand crafted and beautiful.

Present day armoires do have the basic shape of the classic version but with a modern look. Queen Anne style is popular for its hand renditions of scenery with roses and vines. Armoires enhance your decor with a wonderfully classic touch and give your jewelry a great setting.

So why wait any longer? Get out there and find the armoire that suits you best.

This article was written by Ruth D’Souza Prabhu of MarqART Gift Shop. Our jewelry boxes feature evocative wood art designs, created from unique wood grain patterns and colors. A fine addition to your dressing table or as a gift. Please visit http://www.marqartgiftshop.com to browse & buy exotic marqart jewelry box that will give you a lifetime of pleasure!

Tags: Jewelry, marqart jewelry box

A World Apart: The Beauty Of Delightful Mokume Gane Metalwork

The eye-catching and show stopping physical appearance of Mokume gane metalwork is something that you just have to see to truly appreciate. {Not only is the attractive appearance of Mokume gane arresting and attractive, it has a unique back-story which makes it a true conversation topic. ~ Aside from that, the impressive appearance of the Mokume gane look provides an enthralling heritage, something that will always be a great talking point

The Japanese word translates to English as “wood eye metal.” Through history, a few other phrases have been used for the metalwork, which translate to “cloud metal” and “wood-grain metal.” The translations to English are appropriate, as the undulating motifs of the Mokume gane metal look very similar to wood grains. Certainly, contrasting Mokume gane to wood grain is appropriate, but the variety of patterns produced by seasoned craftsmen are as diverse as the clouds themselves.

It was 17th century Japanese katana makers who who developed the process for creating Mokume gane metal, which was used as sword fittings. When sword use decreased in Japan, the craftsmen re-focused and discovered a new market for their skills in the decorative arts. ~ Changes in weaponry harmed the market for katanas, and Mokume gane oriented their trade for decorative items such as jewelry. They created their unique metalwork by liquefying soft metallic elements, which would form liquid phase diffusion bonds. This means the metal bonds together, but doesn’t completely dissolve. The patterns that result are dazzling.

Since there are a wide variety of metals available for use in the Mokume gane process, it results in an extremely diverse possibility of looks in the final product.

Those designers who create Mokume Gane Ringss are creating something unique every single time they produce a piece. Due to the hands-on process of manipulating and pulling and twisting the melted metal, you’ll end up with a piece of jewelry that is unique and like no other.

Because the art of creating Mokume has only really been practiced in the U.S. since the 1970s, you won’t find many pieces of heirloom jewelry here. But for those who like unique jewelry that will have value for a long time, Mokume gane is worth investigating further. For the finest Mokume designs and workmanship, visit Chris Ploof Studio in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Chris designs and creates, including also meteorite and damascus steel, that are very popular wedding bands for those seeking something out of the ordinary.

Tags: Art, Jewelry

Read These Silver Clay Tips Before Your Next Project

Silver clay? What the hell is that? Is it clay made out of silver?
Silver clay, precious metal clay, art metal clay, and art clay silver are all different terms and brands of “clay” that may be magically turned into gold and silver.

These innovative metal clays were introduced to the North American market in the 1990’s. Jewelry artists and hobbyists can now mold, form, and shape expensive metal as easily as play dough.

Making jewelry of course has a long history. The difference nowadays is that you now do not have to hammer or cast your metal to make jewelry if you do not wish to. Silver clay now makes it possible to make real metal forms without these standard methods.

Here is how it functions. Art metal clays are composed of fine metal particles suspended in an organic binder. This binder lets you mildew and shape the clay as you would potter’s clay. Once you are pleased with the form, you let your project dry for a minimum of 24 hours ( or even more ). You then fire it in a kiln or by utilizing a hand torch. The binder burns away, leaving the fused metal behind in the shape you formed it.

Before you grab a lump of silver clay and go at it though, you will need to keep a few guidelines under consideration. Silver clay is expensive, so you do not want to waste it.

Silver Clay Tips

Here are a number of tips for working with silver clay :

–>Metal clays shrink 10-30% when fired. Be certain to take a look at your package for shrinkage levels particularly if you’re making rings or other objects that need to be precise fits.
–>Not all metal clays can be hand torch fired. If you will not be using a kiln be certain to check that your brand of silver clay is “low fire”.
–>Only tiny pieces should be torch fired. Pieces larger than 25g should be kiln fired.
Silver clay is not cheap. The gold version particularly is very high-priced. Be certain to shop carefully and follow instructions fastidiously so you do not burn your money futilely.

• Metal clay is water-soluble and can be slipped with water. Keep a little bowl of water or a spritzer handy while you work. If it starts to dry out while working, you can add a bit of water to moisten it.
• Gemstones that can resist the heat of firing can be set into the wet clay.
• If you see a blackish mould, do not be disturbed. This will burn away when firing. This mould happens when you use regular tap water to moisten the clay.

Now you have some silver clay suggestions, I bet you are psyched. You wish to work with this innovative material now! What will you make first?

Want to discover more about precious metal clay? Read more silver clay articles. http://shop.how-to-make-jewelry.com

Tags: art metal clay, Jewelry, precious metal clay, silver clay