Taj Mahal arabesque pendant

Figure 3.4 - Adams.Z., (2018). Love, Inlayed. Platinum and enamel arabesque pendant 

Figure 3.5 - Adams.Z., (2018). Love, Inlayed. Silver and enamel arabesque pendant

There are two pieces that form part of this project which is a prototype made in silver (figure 3.5) and a final piece made in platinum (figure 3.4), both with enamel accent pieces. For this project I used architecture as a reference, and the work of Azza Fahmy of her use of signs and symbols in her work.

These pieces were designed for the Anglo plat 2018 competition, for which the theme was related to "love". I found that the Taj Mahal was a fitting reference because it was built by a King in memory of his wife who passed away, which is a beautiful expression of love (Leissler, B., (2013). The Taj Mahal exhibits beautifully handcrafted gemstone stone inlay-ed into marble slabs, all around its walls and doorways, that illustrate Quranic Arabic calligraphy and floral arabesque patterns (see figure 3.6).

Figure 3.6 - Leissler, B., (2013). Gemstone inlay-ed in marble on the Taj Mahal.

In designing this piece, I looked that extracting arabesque patterns from the doorway on the outside of the structure and recreating the pattern in wire, and to incorporate colour, I thought of using enamel. I started with a silver prototype seen in figure 3.5, which I was happy with other than a few technical faults that were found. The final piece was made in platinum and was strung onto a black spinal bead necklace.

This piece was meant to represent love and devotion between two people or, on a deeper level, between a person and their Creator. This relationship is embodied in the arabesque pattern of the pendant, in the way the pattern has no beginning or end and is full of never ending life (metallic flowers and leaves as nature are meant to represent life).