Amethyst

Necklace: responsibly sourced sterling silver, heat coloured titanium (hook), 10.41 carat ethically sourced Brazilian lavender quartz (concave octagon-cut), 29.75 carat Brazilian lavender quartz pair (pear-cut), dark freshwater pearl, tumbled rose quartz and chevron amethyst beads.

Feminine power and ancient opulence combined, the Ester necklace is titled after Queen Ester, the Jewish queen of Ancient Persia. Queen Ester (Latinized ‘Esther’) is the main character in the story around which the Jewish festival of Purim is based, and stands as a testament to the civilizational alliance between the people of Israel and the people of Persia (modern-day Iran).

This piece captures a sense of regal history, blending raw, tumbled stones with precision-cut gems. The soft hues of rose and lavender quartz are balanced by the deep, rhythmic patterns of chevron amethyst and the inclusion of a dark freshwater pearl, creating a silhouette that feels both ancient and contemporary.

At its centre, a magnificent 10.41 carat Brazilian lavender quartz is claw-set, its concave octagon-cut designed to catch and amplify light from every angle. This is paired with a striking 29.75 carat duo of pear-cut lavender quartz, creating a layered, sculptural aesthetic worthy of its royal namesake.

Details

• Artistry: Handmade, one-of-a-kind sculptural necklace

• Inspiration: Queen Esther of Ancient Persia

• Metals: Responsibly sourced sterling silver (925) and a heat-coloured titanium hook

• Primary Gemstone: 10.41 carat ethically sourced Brazilian lavender quartz; concave octagon-cut, claw-set

• Accent Gemstones: 29.75 carat (pair) Brazilian lavender quartz; pear-cut, VVS clarity

• Beads: Tumbled rose quartz and chevron amethyst strands, cultured freshwater pearl

Torque Necklace: responsibly sourced sterling silver, malachite, amethyst, cultured freshwater pearl, and concave cut fluorite.

The Adamantine torque is inspired by The Dying Gaul, a Roman marble copy of a Hellenistic work of the late 3rd Century BCE, in which a wounded warrior is collapsed on the floor, nude except for a thick twisted torque about his neck. The marble statue was made as much in celebration of the Roman military victory over the Gaul people as in their honour as worthy adversaries. Gaul warriors were regarded as fierce fighters who expressed their people’s defiance of the Roman Empire by fighting unclothed. The exposed, vulnerable bodies of Gaul warriors were thus not symbols of weakness but evidence of their confident, unbreakable spirit.

The Adamantine torque, cuff and earrings were featured in an empowering jewellery showcasefor International Women’s Day (2022), the theme of which was Break the Bias.These pieces break social bias by positioning vulnerability as a demonstration of strength rather than weakness. This piece was also selected for artisan Collects (2022), a collaborative initiative between Malki Studio and artisan Gallery that invited collectors to explore jewellery as an art form. For more information, please click here.

Brooch and fibula: responsibly sourced sterling silver, heat coloured titanium, emerald cut 12.78 carat Bolivian amethyst, carnelian cabochon, acrylic paint on linen, varnish, sterling silver chain.

Karti is essentially composed of two pins which are attached through a chain. Its name is a reference to one of the prayers and symbols of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana), which represents divine protection from the malevolent forces that threaten the Jewish people.

Karti was made in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 massacres in Israel, and speaks especially of the strength of Jewish women.

Its design cites the traditional jewellery produced and worn by Jews in North Africa prior to our ethnic cleansing in the middle of the 20th Century. Traditionally, Jewish women would have worn two fibula brooches—one on each shoulder—which fastened garments. A chain traditionally connected between the brooches and suspended beads or other ornaments with various symbolic meanings.

In Karti, the fibula takes the form of an inverted Menorah, an ancient symbol of Jewish continuity, set with a carnelian cabochon, carnelian being a traditional material used throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Meanwhile, the titanium and silver brooch is shaped like an oversized olive leaf, representing the Jewish connection to the land of Israel as well as peace. The Bolivian amethyst on this brooch was set upside down, enabling the pavilion facets to fracture and multiply the miniature portrait (painted by hand using acrylic paint on linen) that is set behind the gem. The portrait allegorically depicts Jewish women, with facial features drawn from multiple images of female members of our family as well as Anne Frank and Golda Meir.

Karti was exhibited as part of the Intimate Worlds exhibition at NorthSite Contemporary Arts in Cairns. Occurring between August and October in 2024, the exhibition “is about celebrating materiality and process. The artists featured in ‘Intimate Worlds’ have a profound respect for their materials, and their work reflects a deep curiosity and dedication to their craft.” The work was similarly exhibited as a response exhibition to the Phantom superhero comic in 2023 in the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery as part of the Phantom Response exhibition.

Adam also published a magazine article which included text and images of his work, including Karti, in Yad Mizrah Magazine. Click here to view the article.

Approximate dimensions:

Olive leaf brooch: 18cm x 6cm.

Fibula: 8.5cm x 4cm.

Chain length: 22cm.

Bracelet: copper, responsibly sourced sterling silver, brass, amethyst, garnets.

Ktifa is a one-of-a-kind hinged bracelet featuring a vibrant amethyst on one side and a deep garnet on the other, each set in sterling silver. The hinge pins are tipped with garnet beads, while the copper body of the bracelet is richly patinated, stabilised, and etched with organic lines that move across the surface like flowing textile.

Named after the Hebrew word ktifa, meaning velvet, the piece evokes the sensuality and warmth of both fabric and metal. The pairing of amethyst and garnet roots the bracelet’s aesthetic and cultural lineage in the Mediterranean, where these gemstones have been prized for millennia for their regal colours and their longstanding association with protection, intuition, and the supernatural.

This piece was selected for artisan Collects (2022), a collaborative initiative between Malki Studio and artisan Gallery that invited collectors to explore jewellery as an art form. For more information, please click here.

Made to fit a large to extra large wrist.

Inside width: 7.8cm.

Art Object: fine white clay with chrome oxide wash, barium glaze, recycled and responsibly sourced sterling silver, oval cut 8.6 carat Brazilian amethyst.

The Sanctuary vessel was carved from a single slice of clay. The piece was exhibited in Phantom Response (2023), an exhibition held at the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery and created in response to the Phantom comic hero. Ariella made the Sanctuary vessel in the immediate aftermath of the October 7th massacres in Israel, choosing to focus her artistic response on the human need for shelter, protection, and tranquillity.

Dimensions: 15 x 8 x 7cm.