Lily Flowers - Lilly Necklace

Artist: Tisha Abrahamsen
Materials: fine silver, PMC, sterling silver, China paints, hand blown glass beads
Dimensions: Length: 20'

Artist Statement: As a child growing up in Florida, lilies were abundant in our yard. I was so attracted to their sweet smell, delicate petals and beautiful colors. This necklace was inspired by the design and rich colors of the fabric coupled with my childhood memories.
In Japanese culture, the lily is seen as a representation of good fortune and happiness as well as a symbol of purity, renewal, and rebirth. It is often associated with the Buddhist teachings of enlightenment.
For this necklace, the leaves and petals of the lily are individually hand forged from fine silver sheet. Joined in the center with precious metal clay, the silver is painted with several layers of china paints.
To make the beads, I blow tubes of glass that are individually cut to the size I need. The ends of each bead are fire polished to bring them back to a smooth finish. Combined with sterling beads, the necklace is strung on a foxtail chain for durability.

Artist Bio: Working with glass and metals for over 40 years, Tisha Abrahamsen studied jewelry fabrication and glass arts at California College of the Arts from 1977-1981. Moving to Seattle, she worked as a production designer and glass blower at The Glass Eye Studio from 1981-1985 and 2002-2004. She’s attended Pilchuck Glass School as a student and teaching assistant and graduated in 1991 from The Evergreen State College with a B.A. in Art. Tisha has taught workshops in glass blowing, fusing and slumping and was a jewelry studio monitor at Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle. She is the owner- designer of André Glass, producing high quality hand blown glass bead jewelry. She lives with her family and works in her home studio in the Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.

Fabric Motif: 16 Each color of the lily flower holds a different meaning. The yellow lily represents happiness.

This piece was part of the Yukata Inspired 2024, a collaborative exhibition between Okan Arts & Danaca Design featuring metalwork and collage. Learn more and view the entire collection HERE.