One-Of-A-Kind Asian Pendant Necklaces

Carol Barrett has an eye for one-of-a-kind pieces and has no trouble finding small antique and vintage Asian carvings in jade, mammoth ivory, wood, bone and silver when she travels globally.

While Barrett is best known for incorporating these stunning pieces into beaded necklaces using semi-precious gemstones and hand-blown glass beads, she sometimes feels the pieces will stand best on their own and makes them into pendants and Asian-inspired pendant necklaces.

Collectable pieces
The pieces Barrett finds are special. They’re collectables and antiques with intriguing and mysterious stories behind them. She’s often able to get some information about the pieces she buys on her journeys and other times has to piece them together from her own historical and cultural knowledge of the areas where her pendants originated.

But one thing is certain – Barrett will make sure her clients know everything she knows about the unique pieces they buy from her.

What the jewelry means
Every piece Barrett collects depicts a story or comes from a particular time in history or is made from unique and significant materials.

• Jade carvings frequently represent animals from the Chinese zodiac that can serve as charms to improve or protect the fortunes of the wearers.

• Ching Dynasty Porcelain pieces feature beautiful depictions of everyday life in China during the Ching Dynasty. Most of the pottery has been destroyed and all that remains are small chards. Barrett works hard to find pieces with actual depictions or characters painted on them.

• Wood carved pieces provide the warm and comfortable feeling of wood with intricate Asian carvings, often depicting animals from the Chinese zodiac.

• Silver pendants have a heavy, antique feel and appearance that makes them stand out and get noticed. Barrett collects one-of-a-kind pieces from Asia that often include unique carvings.

• Mammoth Ivory Netsukes use rare ivory from extinct Mammoths. Since the ivory has been in circulation, perhaps for hundreds of years or even more, it’s not illegal. These Asian carvings depict characters and scenes and almost always come with intriguing stories.

• Bone carvings can be beautiful one-of-kind pieces with remarkable character.

Quality materials
While Barrett let’s these stunning pieces stand mostly on their own, she does typically accent them with semi-precious gemstones and hand-blown glass beads. She also uses 18K gold backing and quality leather cords.

Contact Carol Barrett Jewelry for more information about any of the pendant necklaces you see here or to ask about custom jewelry design.