Choosing
a Diamond
Diamonds are found in many parts of the world, but South Africa
has produced some of the largest, best quality, and most famous
diamonds known to man... The Cullinan, Eureka, Star of Africa,
Niarchos...
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Tantalizing
Tanzanite
Tanzanite
is a unique gemstone discovered as recently as 1967 that is
found in only one place in the world - the small mining town
of Arutia situated at the foothills of Mount Kilamanjaro in
Tanzania...
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African
Emporium |
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spectacular and spacious Jewel Africa showroom showcases a vast
range of loose diamonds, gemstones and fine jewellery…
but it is also home to an extensive African Emporium packed
with authentic African art, décor, furniture items, crockery,
clothing, custom-made pewter cutlery and an extensive semi-precious
gift jewellery section. |
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Africa is a true Rainbow Nation rich in colour, texture and
skill – there can be few other places in the world where
such an enormous variety of traditional African folk art is
found and generated – from sculptures and masks to many
styles of jewellery, basketry and ceramics to carved chairs,
embroidered or appliqué cloths, beadwork and traditional
pottery and paintings. A high level of skill is brought to the
production of this work that has been a part of our African
society and culture for so long and has at last found its way
to the commercial market as globally sought after art…
the Jewel Africa African Emporium proudly sources and showcases
many such unique pieces. |
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Nguni
Hides - an African Gem
Jewel Africa’s African Emporium stocks a number of beautiful
and much sought-after Nguni hides that are also highly functional
and often used as “rugs” or furniture coverings
both for their decorative beauty and warmth.
 Nguni
cattle have a unique and fascinating history and their hides
are said to influence the good fortunes and social circumstances
of the people who own them.
If you think a cow is just a cow, think again…
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Elephant
Hair Jewellery
Elephant hair jewellery has become a much sought-after item
of African Jewellery that holds a stylish mystique. Elephant
hair bracelets are worn by many traditional African people in
Southern Africa as a sign or show of respect for the earthly
Gods and for the revered African Elephant. According to 1200-year-old
legend, it is believed that the wearer of such a bracelet would
be protected from illness, taken out of harms way and attain
great fortune. The knots represent four powerful earth forces:
water, the sun, fire and wind. The strands symbolize the yearly
seasons. Moving the knots along the strands is thought to create
a balance and blend between earth and nature, thus enabling
the wearer to be in sync with nature's rhythms.
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Custom-Made
Pewter Tableware
Jewel Africa also offers stainless steel or pewter tableware
and cutlery moulds in a variety of African designs so that you
can have, custom-made, a full table setting for your home. Pewter
is a wonderful metal with a long history… Roman pewter,
the oldest known, has been uncovered at various sites in England
and elsewhere. Pewter is a beautiful precious metal that is
ideal for decorative and practical applications. Historically
Pewter was an alloy of tin and lead (up to 50% Pb). It has recently
enjoyed a Renaissance and became popular in kitchenware, decorative
décor items and utensils.
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Kisii
Stone
The Jewel Africa African Emporium also stocks an extensive range
of Kisii Stoneware decorated with African prints. "Kisii”
is a Kenyan soapstone found only in the Tabaka Hills of Western
Kenya, a few kilometres southwest of Kisii town. A soft and
easily worked stone, it comes in a variety of colours ranging
from cream and lavender to black.
From the quarries in Tabaka, the large blocks of stone are broken
into smaller pieces using large knives or pangas, before being
carried off to workshops several kilometres away. Craftsmen
then cut out the rough shape of the carving with a knife, before
carving out the detail using a small knife called kisu. Following
this, the carvings are polished with wet sand and cleaned with
a small brush. Sometimes the art is coloured with natural dyes,
and then the artist scribes back down to the stone to create
wonderful designs and drawings.
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Gifts
and Unique Toiletries
 If
you’re looking for gifts for loved ones there is plenty
to choose from … from horn and bone jewellery and frames
to safari clothing, unique African lighting and décor
items or bags, mats and scarves.
There is also a full and exclusive range of African Baobab toiletries
– from hand and nail creams to fragrances, bath rocks,
body butters and liquid soap.
Baobab Trees are amongst some of Africa's oldest inhabitants.
Standing tall on the sunburnt African plains, baobab trees tower
over the landscape like great living monuments. The colossal
form of these trees is matched by their usefulness, for they
provide shade, shelter, water and food for a wide variety of
creatures. Baobabs may be the oldest life forms on the African
continent, and many of the specimens still standing today have
certainly been around since the birth of Christ; others for
far longer.
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Ndabele
Dolls
Also popular choices as gift items are the beadwork and traditional
Ndebele Dolls. Ndebele people are among the smallest tribes
in Southern Africa, but are easily one of the most colourful
and distinctive. The Ndebele people are well known for their
colourful houses that have distinctive patterns painted on the
walls. They are also known for the unique Ndebele dolls that
they hand craft. These so called fertility dolls would be given
to a young bride on her wedding day and are usually made by
her immediate family.
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Exquisite
Eggs
Or our very wide range of decorated and collectible Ostrich
Eggs – from plain to hand painted, decoupage or hand carved
these Ostrich eggs are extremely popular gift and décor
items. For thousands of years the San tribe used ostrich egg
shells as water containers. The Ostrich is the largest living
bird in the world today; a mature male can stand nearly 8 feet
high, and weighs up to 230 pounds. Most ostrich eggs are incubated
by the breeder … when hand crafted, these large eggs are
simply exquisite.
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Large
Lion
 Our
African Emporium also has on display a magnificent, full-mount,
blue mane lion that causes quite a stir! Every photo you have
taken with this beautiful specimen will aid Jewel Africa and
the WWF’s recently launched conservation project to support
the protection of African wildlife species and raises funds
for lion conservation.
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Delicious
Cappuccino
Or… if you need a rest,
you can relax in our plush coffee lounge and enjoy a complimentary
cappuccino – one of Cape Town’s finest - or utilize
our internet facilities to share your experiences with loved
ones on the other side of the globe.
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