Graphite, wide cuff bracelet from the Nepal collection

• 95% silver-plated brass, 5% labradorite
• Bracelet width up to approx. 5.5 cm
• Labradorite diameter approx. 0.5 cm
• Approximate weight approx. 45 g

Crafts of the World: Nepal jewelry collection

Between heaven and earth, in Kathmandu, Anna Orska found her own way of designing, based not on searching for inspiration, but on gaining knowledge, authentic encounters and cooperation with masters Traditional craftsmanship. Ten years later, the designer once again joined master craftsman Ramesh, who, along with other artisans, created the components for the Nepal collection to the rhythm of thousands of hammer blows. We added natural labradorite, a perspective-changing stone that, when moved, sheds its dark colors and reveals green-gold reflections. The collection is complemented by unique necklaces with Himalayan crystals set in custom-made settings. Jewelry from the Nepal collection combines the designer's imagination with the knowledge of artisans, tradition with modernity, and the monumentality of mountains with the precision of hand-crafted detail.

Wide, graphite bracelet with plant ornaments and labradorite

The wide cuff bracelet is made of brass plated with a layer of silver and then oxidized. The resulting graphite shade brings out the depth of the relief and highlights every detail of the richly decorated surface. The geometric shape of the bracelet is broken by a delicate indentation in the center, giving it a sculptural character. The surface of the cuff is entwined with hand-repussé spirals, vines, and small leaves. In the Nepali language of ornament, plant tendrils speak of growth, the continuity of life, and constant rebirth, as well as the bond between humanity and nature. The raised patterns were created in the workshops of Nepalese metalwork masters, who, strike after strike, extracted them from thin sheet metal. The bracelet slips onto the wrist, and an additional chain with a clasp secures it. It is topped with a teardrop-shaped labradorite pendant.

Each cuff is hand-decorated, so individual pieces may differ in arrangement, size, and nature of the ornamentation from the bracelet shown in the photo. These subtle differences are a testament to the authentic craftsmanship and make each piece unique.

How are the precise repoussé decorations from the Nepal collection created?

It is said that it takes a Kathmandu Valley artisan about a decade to acquire even basic repoussé proficiency. In this technique, the artist works directly with the metal, and the impacts of the tools leave a permanent mark, so every gesture requires precision and experience. The pattern is shaped from the underside of the thin sheet using a hammer and steel punches of various profiles. On the other side of the metal, a convex relief emerges, refined from the front by deepening the lines, emphasizing the contours, and bringing out the finest details. Creating floral ornaments is time-consuming. Before the repoussé element leaves the Nepalese village and goes to the ORSKA workshop, where it will be transformed into an earring, necklace, bracelets, ring or brooches, undergo thousands of hammer blows from a Newari master. Jewelry from the Nepal collection is a record of his years of study, patience, and knowledge of the material. Precise ornamentation is the heart of each design, and the handiwork ensures that no two pieces are exactly alike.