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Tagua Artisan Jewlry
         
A necklace with a tagua carving as a centerpiece is
entirely handcrafted, with the tagua pendant being
hand carved by Wounaan Tribe artists in the Panama
rainforest and the beadwork being done by me to
complement the beautiful carving. The tagua pendants
are designed by the artists in keeping with a
longstanding tradition, and sold at a fair price to
buyers who travel to the rainforest from around the
world. A tagua necklace perfectly showcases their art.

A tagua nut is the seed of a palm tree that grows in
the tropical rain forests of many South American
countries. The tagua nut grows to the size of a hen’s
egg in a pod. When it first falls from the tree, the
tagua nut has a milky center that is consumed by
forest animals. If left alone, the center hardens into a
material that is very similar in color, appearance, and
feel to animal ivory. Thus, the tagua nut is sometimes
called “vegetable ivory” and has long been used as a
substitute for ivory, being carved into objects ranging
from figurines and chess sets to buttons and beads for
jewelry. So that their work is not mistaken for ivory,
the artists usually leave a bit of tagua shell on their
finished carvings. Many sign their work, and some
combine two or more tagua nuts to form larger
carvings, which are highly coveted.

The demand for tagua carvings is rising. Besides being
a more humane product than animal ivory, the tagua-
producing trees (and the purchase by consumers of
the resultant products) provides an environmentally
friendly way to make a living in the rainforest, as
opposed to other forms of commerce that has caused
the devastating deforestation of the rainforests in
Central and South America.

Some of the most prestigious works of carved tagua
art, including the pendants of these necklaces, are
carved by the Wounaan and the Embera tribes in the
Darien Rainforest. Each tagua nut is carefully carved
and painted by hand. Each carving is truly a unique
masterpiece. Collectors abound, including myself.

I learned the bead weaving technique that I use to
make these necklaces from the experts. Sheilah
Cleary (http://www.shebeads.com), international
beading teacher and master beadwork designer,
teaches this technique and also is a distributor of
these beautiful tagua carvings. Jill Cremer, owner of
the Bead Station in Lake Forest, California (http:
//www.beadstn.net) and a master beadwork designer
in her own right, got me hooked on all things tagua
and “held my hand” all along the way when I
attempted my first piece like this.

The beads in my more complex pieces are mostly
from the Czech Republic, known for quality
craftsmanship, and are all woven together using thick,
tough, durable thread, the same thread that is used to
sew upholstery together. Each takes many hours to
make. Each is truly an heirloom piece.

Have a special tagua carving that you think will work
on a necklace? I can collaborate with you to make
you a custom necklace. Just contact me from the
Contact Me page.
Kitty (sorry this is now sold)
Pinkie $200
Hummingbird with pink flower
Glass beads
Sterling silver chain
19 inches adjustable
Heavy-duty sterling lobster clasp
Judy D'Addieco Tagua Jewelry Collection
Additional Options
Fred $95
Aqua Frog
19 to 21 inches adjustable
Black vintage German beads
Others Czech glass beads
Sterling silver extension chain
Heavy-duty lobster clasp
Charmer $85
Snake in deep burgundies and tan
Glass beads in deep burgundy, almost black
Copper chain, bead caps, and lobster clasp
About 19 inches
Kiss Me Quick! $175
Buttery yellows, muted greens, touch of red
Approximately 19 to 21 inches adjustable
Sterling silver components, glass beads
Heavy-duty sterling silver lobster clasp
Shelly $80
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Glass beads in light copper tones
Copper chain, bead caps
Copper lobster clasp
About 19 inches and adjustable
Hoot $145
Owl on branch
Glass beads, wood spacer beads
About 19 inches
Copper lobster clasp
Tagua pendants on hand-dyed silk ribbon
Glass beads, vintage gold-filled beads on jaguar
Adjustable length with bead slider
A tagua necklace
makes a thoughtful,
one-of-a-kind Mother's
Day gift! Perfect for a
tropical cruise or
vacation! Great for a
unique, everyday look,
too! Wear with a white
or solid-color top over
jeans or a skirt!
SOLD
Goldie $155
Jaguar
Glass beads
About 19 inches
Gold plated toggle clasp
Violetta $135
Hummingbird on Magenta Flower
Glass beads; white beads are vintage plastic/resin
About 19 inches
Hand-made sterling silver hook and eye clasp
Buy Hummingbird on Orange Flower, orange silk  $50
Buy Hummingbird on Lavendar Flower, white silk  $55
Buy Hummingbird on Red Flower, green silk  $50
Buy Hummingbird on Magenta Flower, white silk  $55
SOLD