The striking jewellery produced by Palawa Tasmanian artist Jeanette James uses the traditional shell stringing technique of the Palawa people – the indigenous peoples of Tasmania. This technique is many thousands of years old and the skill has been handed down to Jeanette from generation to generation.
The Mariner and Black Crow shells are collected along the Tasmanian coastline and are incredibly rare. Sometimes, to collect the amount of shells required to produce a substantial range of jewellery can take two to three years. Jeanette stringently follows the cultural protocols, and as a senior custodian of the stringing practice, she has a committed dedication to ensuring the process remains the same for future generations of Palawa women.
Sterling silver clasp. 47cm total length, 150g approx