Sensai
Exquisitely handmade vintage Japanese millefiori glass beads are paired with lapis leaf-shaped beads in a composition that is graceful and refined, possessing both delicacy and quiet presence. For someone who appreciates exceptional craftsmanship and understated elegance, in a piece that is timeless rather than attention-seeking. For more info on the necklace, please click on Details, and if interested in my musings, please go to Story.
Price: SGD $463
The naming of the beads starts from the bead in the centre, with measurement for the bigger beads, moving upwards, with metal beads named last)
Length: 69 cm (27") Weight: 70 gm
Red agate beads: 12 mm
Handmade Japanese millefiori beads
Leaf shaped tabular lapis lazuli in different sizes, largest 37 mm long & 12 mm widest
Flat gold-coloured metal spacers
Small gold-coloured granulated metal round spacers
Gold filled crimp tubes
Gold vermeil box clasp
Gold-plated silver Manik identity disc
My husband, C, had a business trip to Kyoto in the mid-'90s, in the days when I did not travel as much myself, and I made him promise that he would hunt down some interesting Japanese beads for me. He came back with these very fine, delicate looking handmade millefiori beads. Millefiori is an Italian word meaning "a thousand flowers", and the history of millefiori beads goes way back. Take a look at the tiny 'flowers' on each of these beads!
In the earlier years, I was rather at a loss as to how to do justice to them. Recently, I decided to use some of them for a necklace for Manik and thought long and hard about which of the millefiori beads to use, and how and what to design them with.
Finally, I decided I would use the twelve dark blue cylindrical millefiori and a pair of the bigger green oval shaped ones. The almost leaf-shaped tabular lapis lazuli beads were what I needed as a 'backdrop', being a lighter shade of blue than the millefiori, while complementing the green pair. To avoid an over-concentration of blue, I decided to bring in red agate. And finally, gold coloured metal spacers. I decided to call this necklace Sensai, the Japanese word for 'delicate'. Sensai celebrates the quiet artistry of Japanese vintage millefiori glass. The leaf shaped lapis beads lend an organic rhythm, with the red agate and gold bringing warmth and balance to the cool palette. The necklace possesses both delicacy and quiet presence.
I placed Sensai against various colours, and it worked with light grey, black, off-white, and rather surprisingly, a rose pink really enhanced the necklace! Experiment and enjoy!
