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Inspiration
MOTCHÉ PARIS-LIMA finds inspiration in the motifs present in the rich iconography of pre-Hispanic societies : geometric forms, magical bestiaries and ritual reenactments evoke Andean beliefs and the rites associated with them. Light and sparkling, these earrings are inspired by large ear jewellery from the Vicús culture (1250 BC. - 1 AD) which is kept in the Larco Museum in Lima. Did you know that in the pre-Columbian Andes, such jewellery made it possible to distinguish individuals of power? By wearing imposing pieces in silver, gold or gilded copper, religious and political leaders - men or women - thus showed their privileged position in society or their sacred origin. Here, the openwork pattern of the rungs symbolises both the architecture of the temples and the connection between the three Andean worlds: the Hanan Pacha or "world above" in quechua, that of celestial entities ; the Kay Pacha, our middle world ; the Uku Pasha or "world below", that of underground entities.
Motché jewelry
MOTCHÉ PARIS-LIMA combines specialist scientific knowledge with rare ancient technologies to create exceptional jewelry. After several years of research, Motché's founder and designer, Carole Fraresso, based her doctoral thesis on Andean metallurgy. The young archaeologist decided to settle in Peru and, in the intimate setting of museum collections, inspired by the most beautiful international collections, she embarked upon the task of designing her first pieces. She designed her first exclusive collection of jewelry for Lima’s Larco Museum, reinventing the concept of pre-Columbian jewelry making.
One of the techniques employed by MOTCHÉ PARIS-LIMA is the working of thin sheets of gold and silver (less than 1 mm thick), worked by hand and shaped through embossing, a process involving skill and delicacy gained from many years of experience. The jewelry created using these methods is defined by its lightness, facilitating the combining of what are often imposing dimensions with great mobility in terms of form.
Sustainability
MOTCHÉ PARIS-LIMA chooses to operate in workshops designed on a human scale, supporting dedicated local artisans who are the repositories of ancient manufacturing techniques. Production is limited because of the time and care invested in their craft by our metalworkers and gem cutters, who are among the few who still practice these ancestral trades.
