A DRAKE cuff with some golden scales. The cuff gets first fired, then transparently glazed, then some scales are hand-painted with gold, another firing, then the cuff gets masked, leaving the golden scales open, to get glazed for protection, cleaning the masking and getting fired for the last time. The golden colour contains real gold.

Handmade in the south of Japan, on Kyushu island, in Imary. In a valley behind the city of Arita, Hataman Touen is manufacturing the pieces Saskia Diez designed for the ARITA2016 collection. In former times this valley was guarded and no one could leave or enter just like that, it was the place where the porcelain for the emperor was produced and secrets had to be kept.

Jewellery does not have a long tradition in Japan. Decoration has, as well as Symbols. Among the most traditional motifs in tattoos, prints, paintings on porcelain and kimonos, you find scales everywhere. Big and small, of different colours, of different meanings. Those of a dragon, a koi fish, or a snake. Those representing waves of water or the petals of a lotus flower. They could all look quiet similar despite their various meanings. A dragon, for example, stands for wisdom and the force of good, while Koi means determination, courage and desire for success. The snake represents good luck and change, and water means movement, fluidity and life. I liked the idea of putting a `second skin´ on your skin – a skin of scales made in porcelain and with a great symbolic meaning. Using such meaningful patterns, the overall aesthetics of the collection is simple and modern.

Material:
Porcelain
Measurements:
The inner diameter of the cuff is about 63mm.
Care:
This piece is made from porcelain, a breakable material. Don´t let if fall, it will break. Handle with care and store separately.