Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVIII

of numerous petals realised in fabric. The fullness of the central peony is counterbalanced by the lightness of thewoven floralmotifs inwhite gold, which provide a setting for diamonds and yellow sapphires. Considered the queen of flowers since time immemorial, the peony comes from China, where possessing them was once the exclusive privilege of imperial families. One of the countless legends associatedwith the peony tells of the empress of Cathay who, wishing to impose her power over all flora, commanded all the flowers in her garden to blossom simultaneously. Only the peony refused to obey and was thus exiled to the snowy mountain peaks. Despite the cold, it blossomed beautifully, and the empress was compelled to kneel before the majesty of the queen of all flowers. If the wearer so desires, both the peony and the two white gold tails just below can be removed to create a simpler version of the jewel. In a tribute to symphonic splendour, earrings in the formof two violins are distinguished by the intricate workmanship of the gold and the preciousness of the gemstones. The soundbox, the fingerboard with the strings in white gold and the bow of themusical instrument are described in minute detail. The fully sculpted and polished peripheral surfaces are counterbalanced by both the fully hand-chiselled neck and the complex structure of the central volume: the volute motifs on the front, obtained by the meticulous working of gold filaments by hand, alternate with the filigree on the back. The play of solids