Monies, 2006 2 7/8” wide
This stunning pair of mother of pearl bangles is from the brilliant design duo Gerda (nee Lynggard) and Nicolai Monies, who met in design school in the early seventies in West Germany. They united both personally and creatively, and now work from their waterfront studio in Copenhagen where they are inspired and soothed by water and music. The beautiful environment in which they create is reflected in their equally beautiful designs.
The Monies jewelry is made primarily from natural materials, including wood, bone, horn, amber and nail, as well as semi-precious stones. Some fine man-made materials, such as resins, are also used. Many of the pieces have leather cords which can be tied to the desired length; some have carved wood clasps; others have a toggle closure which repeats and continues the theme of the piece. A number of the bracelets employ elastic cord (as do these) in order to maintain a clean, monolithic look. Always the closure is an integral part of the design—never an afterthought—and that perfect detailing is a very important part of the appeal.
I first discovered Monies jewelry in the mid-eighties—love at first sight!
My love affair with Denmark began when I was a very young child. My uncle, who was a career serviceman, lived in Copenhagen with his family, and they sent beautiful Royal Copenhagen porcelain and Danish teak serving pieces at Christmas. When they returned to the States I listened enamored to stories of royal palaces and exquisite gardens in far and away exotic lands, and dreamed of someday seeing it all for myself.
In the mid-seventies that childhood dream came true, and the reality lived up to my expectations.
I found the following when I did some research on Monies.
“We believe that the beauty of our surroundings will reflect on our work. And ultimately, in our customers. Therefore it is essential for us that our workshop radiates this beauty. For this reason the space we work in has been filled with eye-pleasing beauty and wonderful music. This atmosphere is an essential element in our creativity.
An ancient Chinese proverb claims that business thrives near the sea. With a view of the sea and the harbour, we are located on Copenhagen’s waterfront. And we know for certain, that the element of water lets the soul resound with inspiration. ”
Designers
Gerda and Nicolai Monies are an internationally-known design team from Denmark who create spectacular lines of jewelry. Gerda and Nicolai met in design school in West Germany, and paired up personally and as designers- each working off and complimenting the other’s strengths and perspectives. Both are inspired by natural elements and prefer to allow the essence of the material to speak for itself and determine what will flow from it.
Jewelry
The jewelry is made from nature’s own materials including wood, water buffalo horn, nail, bone, amber, and other semi-precious gems – as well as – fine man-made materials such as resins. All materials used are certified in accordance with the International Wildlife Laws of the Washington Convention.
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Gap, circa 1995
