ver the course of the last 27 years, I have had the privilege, and pleasure, of viewing some of the most exquisite examples of fine period antique jewelry. During that time, I have acquired extensive knowledge of the Art Nouveau movement through the handling of some of the finest pieces of the genre. I have always been enamored with this period, which I believe to be the pinnacle of imagination and creativity, coupled with impeccable technical skills.

Several years ago, I began to study the techniques of the "old masters", in particular, Rene Lalique. I soon discovered that very little was actually recorded, hence I started to experiment with different metalsmithing and enameling techniques, using a variety of enamels from around the world. In my thirst for learning the secrets used by the artisans of the time, I began taking enameling workshops, including two with Russian enamellist, Valeri Timofeev, in the techniques of 2 and 3 dimensional plique-a-jour. Although books have supplied me with some useful information, most of my knowledge and skills have been acquired through the painstaking method of trial and error. The more I try to expand my abilities, the more appreciative I become of the technical skill of the master jewelers of the early 1900's.