Oxidized Copper Pendant Necklace with Armenian Sun Symbol - Sun Symbol

Artisan Organization: Mane and Gor

Country: Armenia

"We are Mane and Gor. A student hobby eventually gave birth to our craft. When people ask, 'Can we see your product?' I always clarify that what we do isn't just production; it's a creative journey. As a married couple, we hand our work back and forth at various stages, starting from scratch, all while contributing to our family budget. It's an incredibly positive and fulfilling experience.

"As for our impact on the community, since 2012, we've been a regular presence at markets every week. Today, I could easily list the countries our jewelry hasn't reached. Each patron leaves with a piece of Armenia in the form of our creations — a small story to carry with them. We pour quality, honesty, and soul into every piece. Over more than a decade, we've developed a unique style through our daily work. Armenia is blessed with many talented painters, as we are a creative nation, and I believe our success lies in our originality.

"Our art is a legacy we plan to pass down to our children. We source all our materials locally. Inspiration can stem from any mood or situation, and it's a topic that could be discussed endlessly. Anything has the potential to become an object of inspiration.

"Take the simplest etched ring, for example, It undergoes at least 12 stages, which, in our case, closely resemble a game of football in terms of passes. Gor enters the field, cutting and processing the detail, before passing it to me. I begin by sketching the ornament with a pencil, then use special paint to etch the metal before handing it back to Gor. The future jewelry then goes through another round of processing and polishing, before returning to me, where I age it to look 2000 years old in just a few days, followed by varnishing. It's then handed back to Gor for further polishing and bending, before returning to me for yet another round of varnishing. GOAL! It may sound a bit humorous, but it's not far from reality.

"We have exciting plans for fruitful cooperation with NOVICA. And who knows, perhaps an exhibition awaits us!""