Jewellery of the World is far more than its name would suggest. Beautiful jewellery from Ethiopia, India and Poland is of course a major feature, but so is traditional clothing, furniture, masks and religious artwork, to name but a fraction of what is on offer. It is probably the prettiest place I have been to in Edinburgh and the owners go out of their way to create a welcoming atmosphere; world music is played and they are happy to explain more about the origin of every collection.
Goods from Ethiopia are particularly prominent in this exhibition, as is an obvious effort to engage with Ethiopian culture. Information on native dresses or ‘kemis’ is displayed, as are articles on religious icons and the meaning behind church architecture. Amongst jazzy coffee sets and wooden masks there are also delicately-set opals, bright orange beads and heavy silver crosses. Perhaps the most intriguing items, though, are the large cylindrical baskets brought back from the Simien Mountains. Alongside these are pictures taken from an open air exhibition, in which children can be seen selling sold goods made by their families. It is described by the owners as ‘the most moving buying experience in forty years of travelling’. Having travelled all over the world to put together this exhibition, they clearly have a strong connection with large part of it, and the amount of time and care that they have taken has definitely paid off.
As well as a pearl collection, sapphires from India and some two-thousand-year-old Roman glass pieces, another highlight is the Polish designer jewellery. This could easily belong in a modern art museum. Sleek silver and gold jewellery come in large circles and waves, each piece appearing completely unique. The whole of Galerie Mirages is perfectly laid out, and it’s impossible not to become fixated by anything and everything here, including the rainbow-coloured silk scarves and large beeswax candles used simply as decoration. Galerie Mirage has been described as Edinburgh’s best kept secret and I could not agree more.
