Marrakech Inspires London Jeweler’s Exotic New Collection

A trip to Marrakech was the trigger. The jewelers fell under the charm of the ochre city. A magnificent discovery. Cassandra Goad admired the architectural details, then walked the streets enjoying the atmosphere and watching the weavers work under canvas umbrellas, seeing the water shine on the mosaic tiles in the courtyard fountains, or sipping a mint tea in a cafe while eyeing delicious pastries. In the evening, the flickering lights and the thick air with the scent of jasmine were intoxicating. Sketchbook in hand, Cassandra starts to draw.

The design of the Porte Ouvrant pendant is particularly poignant. It is of great delicacy, with a complex artisanal know-how that resembles that of the doors of the ancient city, which are themselves carved and painted with the same detail and care, describes Country Life. These pendants are talismanic and very tactile. They can be stacked or worn alone. These pendants are matched with matching earrings. As for Cassandra’s Zellije design, it is inspired by the mosaic tiles seen everywhere in Morocco.

"Like an optical illusion, the patterns of the zellijes appear. Swirling stars that bind to each other like wagon wheels," marvels the jeweler. "I closed my eyes and saw the same patterns on the gold and silver workshop bench, filled with the color of the stones. The geometry of the star points, binding to each other creating necklaces and bracelets. Once back, I started with the outlines of the stars and once I had mastered their shape, I connected them and paved them with diamonds," she recounts.

The jeweler has drawn other designs: a raffia design inspired by the dusty floor of the souk where vendors lay their goods on woven raffia mats, a Mashrabiya trellis inspired by the trellises of the Saadian tombs in Marrakech. The designer then transformed these sketches into beautiful rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. He used vibrant stones to bring them to life. A magnificent and inspiring jewelry collection for the summer of 2021.