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Various cultures around the world have a great deal of influence on my work. La Boîte à Bijoux Chinoise or The Chinese Jewel Box is one where the intersection of 2 cultures gave birth to this happy creation.

During my recent sojourn to the beautiful Loire Valley of France, I had the great fortune to stay at the beautifully restored neoclassical Château du Grand-Lucé. At the Château there is a beautiful room called the Salon Chinois or the Chinese Salon with beautiful paintings by Jean-Baptiste Pillement. Pillement was a highly regarded muralist of the 18^th century who counted among his patrons Louis XV, Mdm de Pompadour and Marie Antoinette. The murals in the  Salon Chinois is one of only 3 completely intact remaining today. Chinoiserie was absolutely de rigueur during the period and this beautiful room had it in abundance.

The beautiful Chinese pavilions depicted in the murals with their curved hip roofs (庑殿顶 or wǔdiàndǐng) and resting hill roofs (歇山顶 or xiēshāndǐng) immediately leapt out to me and La Boîte à Bijoux Chinoise was born. The body of this small but intricate jewellery box is my interpretation of these Chinese style roofs with its elegant and seemingly interwoven curves. Embellished with nothing more than delicious magatamas or drop beads, the box is totally self-supporting and is woven completely in peyote. The lid is topped with a beautiful Czech gold foiled cabochon to create a precious “roof” for the jewellery box. The box sits on “legs” made of delightful Baroque cabochons. The number 8 is also extremely important to the Chinese as it is associated with wealth, prosperity and fortune. As such, La Boîte à Bijoux Chinoise is woven with 8 distinct repeats and sits on 8 “legs” to ensure that the owner of the box will be imbued with the power of the number 8.

A happy confluence of Chinese inspired architecture found in a French chateau.

To purchase additional gold foiled cabochons please click here.

IMPORTANT FOR NON-STUDENTS
This link is for students who have signed up for or have taken this class from Manek-Manek Beads previously. If you are not one of these, do not purchase. Any purchases will be cancelled and refunded less 10% finance charges.

FOR STUDENTS
This link is for the materials needed for the workshop only. Instructions are not included. Instructions will be shipped together with the materials kit if you are signed up for an up-coming class.

For more information about the project, please click here.

IMPORTANT FOR NON-STUDENTS
This link is for students who have signed up for or have taken this class from Manek-Manek Beads previously. If you are not one of these, do not purchase. Any purchases will be cancelled and refunded less 10% finance charges.

FOR STUDENTS
This link is for the materials needed for the workshop only. Instructions are not included in this purchase. Instructions will be shipped together with the materials kit if you are signed up for an up-coming class.

Do note that the Aqua/Pewter kit will require courier shipping as the kit is in excess of USD300 and will need insurance. A minimum shipping charge has been added to your order and I will contact you if there are any adjustments required to the shipping charges.

For more information about the project, please click here.

A keepsake is a small item kept in memory of the person who gave it or originally owned it. We treasure them as it brings back great memories we had with that person. What is more appropriate than to keep it in something as beautiful as the keepsake itself.

The Keepsake Vessel is an 8 sided self-supporting bead woven container worked exclusive in peyote. The vessel is embellished with surface netting as well as an embedded crystal cup chain. The vessel stand is self-supporting “wings” embellished not only to look beautiful but also to give structure and support. The lid is topped with a beautiful Swarovski pearl.

In all a fitting vessel for your precious keepsake and the beautiful memories it brings.