Press Release  - Immediate Release                                                   Modern Design in Ancient Jewels  15-22 Feb

  
  Susan Ollemans is returning to the Altfield Gallery for her annual Exhibition of Jewellery from the Asian Region.

  
  The theme this year is on design. In early Chinese, Indian and South East Asian jewellery there is a sense of clean and modern design on pieces of jewellery made 1000 years ago. Nothing it seems is new.

  
 


The jewellery on view from South East dates from the 5th Century BC and includes glass split earrings from Cambodia and Laos. These were ritual jewels but could not be more contemporary in design. Gold from Java is on view dating from the 9th Century(Classical Java) through to the wonderful gold of Sulawesi made during the 19th Century

 
 
From China a fine collection of jewels from the Liao, Song and Ming Dynasties and finally from India there are pieces from the Ghandaran period 5th century through to the jewels of the Tamil Nadu region in the South of India bold in design.



There is a rare carved Colombian emerald of 56 carats believed to have been owned by the last King of Oudh Wajid Ali Khan.



For high resolution images and details, please feel free to contact Alice at 2537 6370, thank you.









 
Images attached: (from top to bottom)

Blue Glass Split earring, Lao or Vietnam, Dong Son C700BCE-700CE

The Dong Son culture (East Mountain Culture) is a Bronze age culture which includes all of South-East Asia and into the Indo-Malaya Archipelago from about 1000 to 1 BC. Centred on the Red River Valley of Vietnam, the Dong Son were sophisticated agriculturalists, raising rice and buffalo. To the South were found the Proto-Cham culture of Sa Huynh Culture (700BCE-100CE)
A small gold and ruby ring, Central Java, 9th century
A pair of gold earrings in the form of Chrysanthemum, Chinese Southern Song Dynasty, 12th century
A diamond and spinel pendant, Hyderabad, 19th century
A carved emerald and diamond ring, Emerald 17th century, Setting 19th century

 		 
 








A part Navaratna necklace, North Indian 19th century



A part Navaratna necklace with each square linked by rows of natural pearls and the reverse in bold enameling.


Astrology and the study of stones has always been an integral part of an Indian way of life .It is believed that certain stones represent the celestial bodies seen in the universe The nine holy stones (Nava ratna) represent the seven planets revolving around the sun, with the waxing and waning moon making up the nine. The idea of planetary stones related to celestial deities is believed to have come to India from Mesopotamia 


The navaratna represent humanity and the universe and the balance between them.                              


The number nine contains all numbers in the single digit but is contained in none and therefore considered magic. All the navaratna are combinations of nine stones. The gems are found revolving around the sun which is normally a ruby in the centre of the group of nine. The Sun ,the source of life and energy,rules over all the other planets.
 
 
Diamond, pearl, ruby, sapphire, emerald  ,(maharanani) are considered to be the major stones and are standard. Topaz,cat’s eye, coral, hyacinth or zircon are considered the minor stones (uparatnani ) and may vary. There are in addition to the planets nine celestial deities that are attached to each stone ( nava-graha) Sun: Surya, Moon :Chandra ,Mercury: Budha, Venus: Shukra, Saturn: Shani, Mars: Mangala, Jupiter :Brhaspati ,ascending or dragons head : Rahu, descending or dragons tai: Ketu. All the deities are male.



Another derivative of the navaratna is from the spectrum of light: each colour represented by a planet and as such having a direct effect on all living creatures. Moon, Jupiter and Venus are benevolent bodies whilst Mars, Saturn Rahu and Ketu are malevolent.



The wearing of these stones in their natural order is considered to help and aid the wearer to reach harmony and tranquillity within the ordered Universe. The stones should be clear and bold and the astrologer and jeweller are involved with each other in every step of the way in order to ascertain the best moment to select the stones, make the piece and to wear the stones.
  
 
Maharanani :

Ruby: Sun: Surya

Diamond: Venus: Shukra

Blue Sapphire: Saturn: Shani

Emerald: Mercury: Budha

Pearl: Moon: Chandra		 Uparatnani :

Coral: Mars: Mangala

Yellow sapphire /topaz: Jupiter : Brhaspati

Hessonite; Ascending moon: Rahu

Cat’s Eye: descending moon : Ketu

 
   Altfield Gallery, 248-9 Prince’s building, Chater Road, Hong Kong   Open: Mon-Sat 10-7 ; Sun 11-5

T. 2537 6370       T. 2537 6370       gallery@altfield.com.hk       www.altfield.com.hk

  
 



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