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| 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 |
A tagua necklace makes a thoughtful, one-of-a-kind Mother's Day or holiday 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! |
| Custom Orders If you like a particular "creature" but want different colors, beadwork, etc., let me know by using the Contact Me link. I can try to find you another tagua that fits the bill and can make you a custom piece to your specifications. |
| Olive Owl $125 Owl tagua carving Czech glass beads and tagua disks About 19.5 inches Pendant drops about 2.5 inches Sterling silver lobster clasp |
| Harpo $200 Harpy eagle tagua carving Czech glass beads in spiral weave About 19.5 inches Pendant drops about 2.5 inches Hand made loop-and-button clasp (tagua) |
| Winter Solstice $200 Hummingbird tagua carving Pendant drops about 2.25 inches to bottom tassle Czech glass beads, sterling silver cones Adjustable from 18 to 20 inches Sterling silver lobster clasp |
A necklace with a tagua carving as a centerpiece is "art within art." Each is a unique design, 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-trade price to buyers who travel to the rainforest
from around the world. A tagua necklace perfectly showcases their art, and it's sure to be a showstopper wherever you go. 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.
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-trade price to buyers who travel to the rainforest
from around the world. A tagua necklace perfectly showcases their art, and it's sure to be a showstopper wherever you go. 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.
Tagua Artisan Jewelry
Judy D'Addieco
What is tagua?
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.
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, CA, and a master
beadwork designer in her own right,
“held my hand” all along the way when I
attempted my first piece like this.
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, CA, and a master
beadwork designer in her own right,
“held my hand” all along the way when I
attempted my first piece like this.
| Holiday Hummer was $200 ... NOW $100 Hummingbird tagua carving necklace set Bracelet is 8 inches (can be attached to necklace to increase length) Czech glass, Chinese crystal, vintage rounds and snowflakes About 19.5 inches long Sterling silver lobster clasps, chain, and earring components |
| Special Post-Holiday Price 50% off |
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Helping people and animals
The profits from the purchase of the
tagua centerpieces that I use in these
necklaces help support the people of
the Wounaan tribe.
Profits from the sale of my jewelry go
toward helping animal rescue groups
maintain sanctuaries, get abandoned
pets out of high-kill shelters, and heal
the injured ones that need medical
care. If you want me to donate the
proceeds from your order to your
favorite animal rescue organization,
please let me know.
The profits from the purchase of the
tagua centerpieces that I use in these
necklaces help support the people of
the Wounaan tribe.
Profits from the sale of my jewelry go
toward helping animal rescue groups
maintain sanctuaries, get abandoned
pets out of high-kill shelters, and heal
the injured ones that need medical
care. If you want me to donate the
proceeds from your order to your
favorite animal rescue organization,
please let me know.
| Summer Hummer $200 Hummingbird tagua carving Pendant drops about 3 inches to bottom Czech glass beads - Note that the reds in this piece are more of a coral than true red or orange. It looks lovely with the rest of the colors. Sterling adjustable chain from 19 to 21 inches Sterling silver infiniti clasp |
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| Seacritters $100 Starfish tagua carving Pendant drops about 2 inches Unicorne glass beads, real shells, Non-tarnish silver plated chain and seashells Adjustable to 18.5 inches Silver plated lobster clasp |
| New! Made with economical silver-plated components. |
| All rights reserved. All works on this website are copyrights of Judith A. D'Addieco. No permission is granted to download or reproduce any content without prior written permission of the owner. |