Traditionally the most important material for jewellery down here in Syria was silver, but for poorer people copper and bronze were also used. Silver gilt and gold were less common and used only in exceptional cases. Precious stones played no part in folk jewelry, but semi-precious stones occur occasion­ally. Cornelian, agate, turquoise and amber were the first choice, and magical properties were attributed to them, because of their colours. Consequently glass beads of the same colours could be substituted. This is what i have learned talking with the people in Damascus.

It is extremely difficult to draw the line between Syrian folk Jewellery and the jewellery of the neighbouring regions, as traditions of late antiquity and Byzantium are still just as apparent as those of the Near East. Syrian jewellery, however, also shows influences of Egyptian, Palestinian and Yemenite jewellery, as well as of jewellery from present- day Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran and Central Asia.

And jewellery is what my last design is about. Down here in Damascus, no matter the amount of work i have, i also find some time for designing. Check above. Back home to my lovely Spain tomorrow.