The chill of winter is beginning to settle over Tel Aviv, Israel, but we still want to stroll along beautiful Gordon Beach as we overlook the rough surf. Israel is also the home of featured jewelry designer Maya Offer.The liquid color of sculpted glass beads, and smooth gemstones highlight the designs of Offer's elegant jewelry.
Unlike some Israeli jewelry designs I have viewed that highlight beautiful mosaic patterns, Offer's modern, streamlined designs focus on a single, luminous color offset by sterling silver, or 14- and 18-karat gold.
Offer stepped into the world of precious metal design 27 years ago while studying at Israel's Bezalel Academy of Arts. Not long after graduating, Offer met future husband, and business partner, Ehud, an alumnus of Boston Museum School of Fine Arts.
Offer felt Ehud's talent for sculpture and painting was the perfect blend to her artistic gifts. The pair then established their company, Maya Offer Jewelry Design, which subtly combine their predilections.
The glass bead items are produced with the use of Italian Murano glass rods, which are melted and carefully molded into beads. The beads are arranged simply but the iridescent hues of blue, green, and red add interest and vitality.
Offer incorporates modest yet palpable detailing in her jewelry items, such as a single tendril or coiling leaf vine placed along a ring's circumference, while a smooth, contrast of metal rests on either side of the textured area. In other instances, the metal is imperfect with slightly bent edges providing a wonderful, organic quality.
In 1997, the Israel-based company was commissioned by the Office of Israel's Prime Minister to supply it with special jewelry for presenting to such dignitaries as the then First Lady Hillary Clinton, and Queen Nur of Jordan.
The beautifully understated jewelry is available through numerous channels including galleries, museums, a
nd stores in the USA, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the United States.________________
Photo 1 (top right): Earrings from the Gold Line Collection
Photo 2 (center): Murano Multi-colored Glass Bead Necklace and Bracelet Set
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