About Ajoure

"Ajoure is a style of metalwork that is often confused with filigree. However despite some similarities of appearance the two are very different. Ajoure is a design style that involves leaving large open spaces in the metal. It's often used in gold jewelry, especially with larger flat pieces such as pendants and brooches. The result is reminiscent of the style of lace known as "ajour". The result of ajoure production is a piece that superficially resembles filigree work. However whilst filigree is built up using fine threads of gold, in ajoure the holes are usually stamped or cut out of a larger piece of metal." From Wikipedia etc.

With more designs (coming) in this style I thought it was nice to put some I have together.

From top left to left below, clockwise:
Macs Black Matte Obisidian bead, Chamilia Feathers silver & CZ bead, Christa/Luccicare Etched Black OOAK glass bead, Pandora Basket Weave silver charm, Christa/Luccicare OOAK glass bead, Faerybeads Mackintosh Willow Chair silver bead, Christa/Luccicare Etched Plum OOAK glass bead, Faerybeads Dragon Treasure silver bead, Thomas Sabo Shanghai Obsidian bead, Faerybeads Merkaba silver bead, Christa/Luccicare Etched Taupe OOAK glass bead, Trollbeads Whorl silver bead, Christa/Luccicare OOAK glass bead, Thomas Sabo Karma silver bead, Christa/Luccicare Etched Black OOAK glass bead, Chamilia Feathers silver & CZ bead, Macs Black Matte Obisidian bead, Faerybeads Tulip lock and bracelet chain.

Which ones do you have, and how do you wear them?

Sigh. Swoon. I love that bracelet, Smaug!

People do use the word filigree for any open work, lacy sort of bead. I've never heard the term ajoure before. Thanks!

Lovely bracelet, I really like the open work beads, I see you have a couple of the Thomas Sabo Karma beads on there, I thought I had read somewhere that they didn't fit on a TB bracelet??? Which chain were you using here?

Indeed, TS Kara Beads don't fit on Trollbeads chains, this chain is one of the new styles I've been working on for Faerybeads and has been featured in several pictures before like the collection for the Dutch Rijksmuseum: http://www.faerybeads.com/c-2082824/thinking-of-holland/ 
This collection needed a less ornate weave than the Dragon Tail, hence this new style.

Thanks! I am sort of pleased the TS beads don't fit my bracelet as it's one less thing to add to my ever growing wishlist!

Thank you for clarifying the term ajoure and showing examples.  
The choice of matte finished glass beads is striking next to the intricate silver beads.

Smaug wrote:"Ajoure is a style of metalwork that is often confused with filigree. However despite some similarities of appearance the two are very different. Ajoure is a design style that involves leaving large open spaces in the metal. It's often used in gold jewelry, especially with larger flat pieces such as pendants and brooches. The result is reminiscent of the style of lace known as "ajour". The result of ajoure production is a piece that superficially resembles filigree work. However whilst filigree is built up using fine threads of gold, in ajoure the holes are usually stamped or cut out of a larger piece of metal." From Wikipedia etc.

With more designs (coming) in this style I thought it was nice to put some I have together.

From top left to left below, clockwise:
Macs Black Matte Obisidian bead, Chamilia Feathers silver & CZ bead, Christa/Luccicare Etched Black OOAK glass bead, Pandora Basket Weave silver charm, Christa/Luccicare OOAK glass bead, Faerybeads Mackintosh Willow Chair silver bead, Christa/Luccicare Etched Plum OOAK glass bead, Faerybeads Dragon Treasure silver bead, Thomas Sabo Shanghai Obsidian bead, Faerybeads Merkaba silver bead, Christa/Luccicare Etched Taupe OOAK glass bead, Trollbeads Whorl silver bead, Christa/Luccicare OOAK glass bead, Thomas Sabo Karma silver bead, Christa/Luccicare Etched Black OOAK glass bead, Chamilia Feathers silver & CZ bead, Macs Black Matte Obisidian bead, Faerybeads Tulip lock and bracelet chain.

Which ones do you have, and how do you wear them?

Gorgeous bracelet!  Can't wait to see the next "ajoure" designs! 

These type of silver beads tend to be the ones that catch my eye first. This bracelet is an absolute DREAM!! And thanks for the detailed explanation about ajoure, it's great to learn something new every day!

It wuold be lovely if once a week or a month there you could explain us more about jewellery, maybe could be nice to have a dedicated section to it!
Thank you very much Smaug

reltan wrote:It wuold be lovely if once a week or a month there you could explain us more about jewellery, maybe could be nice to have a dedicated section to it!
Thank you very much Smaug

I will second that motion.

I have never heard of "ajoure" jewellery either, I love the bracelet, I am very curious what Faerybeads is up to! if they are like the Merkaba, Macintosh Chair and Dragon's Treasure, they will look great, those beads really stick out in this bracelet, they are my favourites (with a few others) anyway...

I would also love to have one of those bracelets, can they be ordered already? Had a look at the TS, there might be a few beads that would interest me, but I am not going to start collecting them, maybe one or two...