Taj Mahal 9ct yellow gold double ended cufflinks. From the Journey to India.
Inside the mosque adjacent to the great Taj Mahal there is a ceiling pattern high up in the apex of the roof, which caught my eye. A complex geometrical radiating pattern created from intersecting arcs. In the roof of the mosque, this pattern is transformed into ribbon like lattices. Opulent and grandiose to the eye - as befits this monument to great love - the Taj Mahal and its mosques were built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Geometry was never just an adornment in Mughal style, it was a means of evoking a world beyond earthly experience. The universe was deemed to have a mathematical basis and so arts and architecture by incorporating this gave the works of man a transcendent quality - a true heaven on earth.
Gold is a metal that Cassandra loves to work with, it takes a wonderful pátina with time. Cassandra has the skill of knowing which carat, strength and durability of gold to use, where stone setting is concerned, so that jewels last and look beautiful for generations. Sourcing gold and other metals responsibly from people who have the same ethical vision as herself is particularly important, and she regularly encourages transformations from old unworn jewels in to new sparkling pieces. When receiving jewels from Cassandra Goad, you can be assured that only the highest quality gold is being used.
If you would like to have this design crafted bespoke for you in another metal - silver, white or rose gold - please contact us and we will be delighted to make this for you.
All Cassandra Goad jewellery is designed and made in the
workshops in London.
As a gemmologist, the chemical composition and properties of
gemstones have always fascinated Cassandra. Ever in search of the
unusual and rare, she travels the world to source beautiful
gemstones, either in the rough or cut form. The craftsman works as
an artist recreating the design in metal, his interpretation is
vital to the overall feel of the jewel. The jewel is then mounted,
assayed , polished and set. Many of Cassandra's jewels can be hand
engraved with a personal message to make a unique bespoke gift.
One of the treasures of the Indian department at the V and A museum is a gold necklace of exquisitely carved seed pods. Cassandra's Indian marriage pendants are her own interpretation with deeply carved details. In Delhi, the Qut'b Minar's marble carvings there give rise to her own eponymous ring.