ANABELLE ROYO NOMINEË AT NTJ INTERNATIONAL DESIGN CONTEST

For the design contest and exhibition 2010 the technical jury of New Traditional Jewellery (NTJ) has chosen the theme ‘True Colours’ because literally as well as figuratively this theme offers considerable scope for inspiration. 
Showing your true colours means that you show what your real attitudes and qualities are. You can approach True Colours from a social perspective; society is full of topical colour coding. Other examples may be found in heraldry, folklore and science.
True Colours refers to colours and pigments. Over the centuries the palette of art history has been determined by precious mineralogical and biological pigments that were obtained from ground semi-precious stones, processed metals, and earth, seeds and plants – materials that did not always bear the test of time; in the course of time white lead e.g. turned black.
The link between the theme ‘True Colours’ and contemporary jewellery design is obvious. From time immemorial the significance and appreciation of jewellery have pre-eminently been determined by colour.
From the use of gold or silver to enamels and mineralogical and biological stones: colour is a language. In the seventies and eighties it became manifest how rich this language is. The application of textiles and Perspex in jewellery led to a new form language and use of colour – an important stage in the emancipation of contemporary jewellery design.

True Colours is about the history, meaning, value, magic and power of the language of colour.

For every edition of New Traditional Jewellery an inspiring theme is chosen. Participants are challenged to reshape historical or traditional jewellery. They do not submit just their design - they must also submit pictures and information about the historical or traditional ornament on which their concept is based.
This is the characteristic added value of NTJ: past and present are bridged by artists in a very personal way. A technical jury selects fifty to seventy designs which are on show in an exhibition during the SIERAAD fair, where the winners of NTJ are also officially announced.

When taking part in this contest, jewellery designers from all over the world make use of a new platform where they give shape to their vision of a tradition and a theme. This design contest and the ensuing travelling, international exhibition have become a showcase for developments in contemporary jewellery in the new millennium.

We will soon inform you if Anabelle Royo is awarded for her piece ' Kaa' 2010 that you can see in the pictures above.

The serpent as a decorative motif has a profound mythological significance: in its symbolism connected with wisdom and eternity, in its ancestral power as a defender, and simply in its mysterious fascination. Among all decorative motifs,snakes seem to have been the most favoured in early Victorian England jewellery, reaching the pick of their popularity in the 1840s. The typical bracelet of the 1840s was designed as a serpent coiled around the wrist. The most expensive examples were made of hinged segments enamelled in royal blue and sprung so that they could be worn without a clasp. The head and the joints were usually set with diamonds, occasionally with Hungarians opals. In my piece, Anabelle said, I would like to show the mystery around the snake by the combination of materials and colours. I indeed celebrate the magic that comes when wearing a unique piece of jewellery.