These intricate earrings were crafted by Brazilian artist Nilson de Assis, who was so passionate about learning to design jewelry that he taught himself the trade every night after work.
I was first introduced to the work of Nilson de Assis by a fellow lover of Brazilian artistry. She owned numerous pieces of his work and one afternoon the two of us examined the many pieces in her collection. I was especially attracted to the pieces that incorporated raw semi-precious stones with the alpaca silver. They had a transformational ability to appear as either artwork or fine jewelry depending on their context. Their beauty left me wondering about his story and influences.
Nilson's background did not disappoint. He left his Rio de Janeiro school prior to graduation to fabricate handbags, then apprenticed with an artisan brass worker. What hooked me on his story -- and ties in well with with the VirtuArte ethos -- is that he honed his skills at home using leftover materials from work. His roots are embedded in the very foundation of sustainable design practices. These earrings are a beautiful example of Nilson's design and creative talents.
- Alpaca silver, raw amethyst stones
- Color: Silver, purple
- Surgical steel hooks
- Length: 1 1/2 inches; Width: 1 inch
- Will not tarnish, clean with soft cloth
- Handmade in Brazil
- Shipped from the US within 48 hours of purchase
Product SKU: NA-3001
