ABOUT THE ARTIST

As the daughter of a mining engineer, French jewelry artist, Elena Cantacuzene, was introduced to gems and minerals at an early age. Her love of putting things together is life long. Her first creations were costumes made using materials culled from flea markets. She went on to study decorative arts in Paris and joined a fabric design firm upon graduation.

After a time, she returned to her first love, colored stones and jewelry design, and after a successful debut at the “Salon Premiere Classe” she opened her own boutique studio. Her early works were influenced by ethnic jewelry styles. Today, a trace of this influence persists but with greater refinement. She uses materials from all parts of the world, various semi-precious stones, pearls, seashells, feathers, agates, corals and woods.

Her work has been featured in numerous French fashion publications. She has been awarded five “Etoiles de Mode” and “Les Mains d’Or” awards.

ABOUT THE WORK

Cantacuzene has provided Patina Gallery a selection of jewelry crafted from textured pewter and plated in gold and silver. Sometimes, the silver is oxidized. She combines this metal with colored stones, coral and turquoise.