About

Gold is a pure element (Aurum) caught up in stone deep below the surface of the earth. Ore deposits are formed through the imperceptible, aeonian shifting of the tectonic plates which, over millennia, are brought close enough to the surface for extraction. This process is elaborate and takes time, which means refined gold will always be highly valued, even more so when turned into intentional objects of beauty by the hands of skilled artisans.

The ancient Egyptian pharaohs and queens were famous for gold ornamentation in their jewelry and burial chambers. They believed that their deities shone with a golden light – it was a divine and invincible metal. Gold has even changed the course of world history several times: once by the rumors of decadent golden cities in ancient Central America and again several hundred years later when rich gold deposits were discovered in the North American west. Gold has an ancient history and a timeless allure.

Artist

Jivita Harris-Casey was born in Dordrecht, Holland, but now lives in California with her family. "I love to travel as often as I can, but I must say California is really my favorite place. The sea air and water really have a hold on me!" Jivita's home studio opens onto a garden filled with native plants, her cat, a desert tortoise, and a ton of hummingbirds. She likes to work surrounded by her music (which ranges from all kinds of rock to jazz, world music, and electronic dance music), her favorite books, trinkets collected during her travels, and her metalsmithing tools.

Jivita has always loved jewelry for what it can reveal about the wearer. She was introduced to metal smithing at California State University Long Beach, when someone suggested she take a jewelry class. "It was as if bells started ringing, everything became obvious and clear. I finally found my passion!" Jivita enjoys working with texture and patina, finding ways to emphasize the raw shape and feel of the metal. The ideas she conveys with her jewelry are earthy and evocative but allow for plenty of interpretation.

Details

• 14k gold-plated bronze drop earrings with gold fill earwires
• total length 2"
• TLC for your gold plated jewelry