Nino Rostomashvili

Enameller

Reviving the ancient art of Georgian cloisonné enamel

Nino makes jewellery and artworks with cloisonné enamel techniques
Her craft has a rich tradition in Georgia
She is inspired by nature and folk stories

Nino Rostomashvili is a woman of many talents. After starting out in the field of biophysics, she switched to freight forwarding and logistics, while at the same time following her artistic calling. Gradually, she delved deeper and deeper into the ancient art of cloisonné enamel. “This is a craft with a remarkably rich historical tradition in Georgia in particular, where it was very popular for many centuries,” explains Nino. The heyday of this art in her home country was from the 10th to the 15th century, after which it almost disappeared. But a revival is currently taking place, to which Nino is contributing. Her elegant, colourful jewellery and artworks are the result of a painstaking process. “I follow the traditional ways, which takes a lot of patience but leads to unique creations,” she says.

Interview

Where do you get the inspiration for your work?: Mostly from nature. I am particularly inspired by the colours of animals, like birds and fish, and flowers. Some of my creations also feature figures from folk stories, such as mermaids.
What do you love most about your craft?: It is a complicated and demanding craft, that requires a lot of time and concentration, but to me the whole creation process is very exciting and beautiful. It actually relaxes me, and brings me so many moments of peace.
What are the most memorable moments in your professional life?: The most gratifying moments, those that I will never forget, always occurred when I gave my work to people as an unexpected gift. That feeling of making them happy with this surprise is the most fulfilling feeling.
What would you say to a young person who wants to pick up the same profession?: You need to have a lot of patience, be very attentive to each detail and practise intensely to achieve high-quality results. I also think innovation is important. I myself always try to integrate new and interesting ideas in my work.

Nino Rostomashvili is an expert artisan she began her career in 2010