Ica wahbeh

Lama Hourani is a young successful alchemist. Her final product is not necessarily gold, but sure as precious, or more.
Her delightful creations, each time having a different theme as point of departure, are dazzling sculptures to wear.
Inspired, as Lama says, by "the natural bounty and urban landscape of Jordan, each piece emanates a mystical energy, a spiritual empowerment, a tribute to the sacred amulets crafted in the ancient lands of the ‘One thousand and one nights'."
Her "Dead Sea", "Cave animals", "Jordan architecture", "Wadi Rum", "Jordan Valley", "Jordan nature" collections recreate, in a delightfully stylized form, "an imaginary echo-system that might have existed in the Dead Sea thousands of years ago", "depictions of prehistoric man and mythical animals adorning the walls of caves throughout Jordan", "abstract etchings, archaeological relics and hidden totems of the Badia region", celebrating life and times in Jordan and "one woman's odyssey into the metaphysical realm of the East".
Lama's "charms" are many and their symbolism is made clear by her: "apple for love and education, tree for family, key for happiness, the Egyptian key of love for health, pigeon for peace, turtle for luck, fish for wealth, eye for protection, Allah or the cross for blessings".
Her amazing collections leave one breathless. Artistic, aesthetically pleasing, of colours that defy words, these jewels catch light, reflect and refract it, surprise, delight, enchant.
Watch chains, chandelier earrings, tie bracelets, tie necklaces, rotating rings, are part of her collection which makes use of precious stones, Murano glass and rock crystal slivers.
Knitted copper, silver and gold necklaces, brooches, earrings, bracelets, rings, key chains... the variety is astonishing and only matched by the beauty of these original creations.
Small and dainty or bigger and solid, the jewellery is skillfully created.
Light is Lama's prisoner. She controls it, dictates where it goes and whether it is allowed to come back or stay trapped within.
Between crystalline transparent and opaque matte, her pieces surprise and entice. Elaborate, costume like, or minimally simple, they all make a statement and bear the artist's imprint. With roots in the craft of her ancestors, but also extremely modern, stylized, abstract, the jewels invite touch and caresses, with promises to do the same to the warm human skin they will adorn.