Adorn Magazine - May - June 2018

In this issue

There are some who enthusiastically dedicate their lives to promoting arts & crafts. Chief among them are curators who foster ideas & create an intimate connect between the viewer & the art work. Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos is one such aesthete. After working as a global foreign policy expert for over two decades, including a stint at the New York-based Ford Foundation, she launched Mahnaz Collection, a vintage jewellery gallery & boutique in Manhattan. Her strength lies in identifying unusual & highly collectible pieces dated from mid- to late-20th century. She recently curated an exhibition ‘London Originals: The Jeweler’s Art in Radical Times’, spotlighting 150 masterpieces by British jewellers from the 1960s & ’70s, & modern Native American jewels. Turn to Museum Tour to admire the selection.

Premier jewellery designer Margot McKinney displays an affinity towards gemstones – opals, pearls & pink diamonds – that are native to her country, Australia. Margot’s stunning psychedelic & bold creations resemble Impressionist paintings that are coloured with a multitude of other gemstones as well. This charming entrepreneur & globetrotter speaks about her journey in Creative Charisma.

Significant regional influences, especially from Rajasthan & Gujarat, are evident in the art form of jadau (jadtar). With a visual grammar that is truly Indian, this craft of intricate engraving on gold requires a set of highly skilled artisans to complete a piece. Although rubies & emeralds & other semi-precious gems are used to accent patterns in jadau jewellery, the central stones often are vill&is; or polkis – diamonds that bear fewer facets & have less brilliance or are uncut or sliced. Our Cover Feature showcases some fine, painstakingly crafted pieces in 22-karat gold by CVM, a company founded in the 1850s in Junagadh, Gujarat. While retaining the essence of the ancient craft, the br& has infused contemporary elements to make it aesthetically relevant to the woman of today.

Gold Lust

The new-age bride-to-be references the past, but adds a fresh spin by opting for heavily detailed 22-karat gold jewellery that is handcrafted with ancient techniques and adorned with uncut diamonds and rubies. Paired with exclusive and trendy ensembles that reflect her high style, she proves that she is a trendsetter in the true sense of the word – her chutzpah and swish demeanour tell all.

2 mins

The Best Of The Best

TEFAF MAASTRICHT IS THE WORLD’S LEADING ART AND ANTIQUES FAIR, HELD IN NETHERLANDS. KNOWN FOR OFFERING RARE AND MATCHLESS WORKS OF ART, THE FAIR DRAWS THE FINEST ART DEALERS AND EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THE 31ST EDITION OF TEFAF MAASTRICHT WAS HELD FROM MARCH 10TH-18TH THIS YEAR.

2 mins

An Art Affair

Mahnaz Collection presents ‘London Originals: The Jeweler’s Art in Radical Times’ that opened on April 11 in New York. Here are some interesting facts about the show.

2 mins

Forgotten Triumphs

(2nd place in The Student & Apprentice Category)

1 min

Read all stories from Adorn

Adorn Magazine Description:

Adorn is India’s first magazine dedicated to the art of fine jewellery. It is published and circulated in India by Spenta Multimedia, the country’s largest custom publisher. The bi-monthly publication that was started in 2010 is the premier source of information for jewellery connoisseurs and designers. Adorn chronicles India’s jewellery design capabilities and keeps an eye on global trends.