Today's Word: MILLEGRAIN

In Millegrain (French: "thousand grain") decoration, little ridges are raised in the metal to form a "beaded" frame around settings of stones, or as decorative borders. First used in the 19th century, millegrain "settings" became popular in white gold and platinum jewelry of the art deco era.

Today's Word: SPELTER

SPELTER is a zinc alloy used in the manufacture of figures. It is a cheap alternative to bronze, but almost impossible to repair if broken. Used since the mid 19th century, it was a very popular in the manufacture of miniature figures, which were then cold painted (like Vienna bronzes), as well as items like candlesticks, and larger statues, which were often "bronzed" over the alloy's dark gray patina to look more impressive (and sometimes to deceive). If scratched, a bright silver color will be revealed under the dark patina.

Today's Word: IZNIK

Iznik is a tin-glazed pottery, brightly decorated in turquoise, green, blue, and red, originally made in Anatolia, and dates as far back as the 16th century. Prized by sultans of the Ottoman Empire, Iznik tiles were used to decorate the walls of old imperial and religious structures. Iznik is still being made in Turkey.

Today's word: BOOK CHAIN

Book Chain necklaces and bracelets were so called because the links looked somewhat like books. Although they took on many shapes, some rounded, some square and geometrical, the basic design was like that of books folded over connecting links. They were made in gold, pinchbeck, gold filled and silver, and often elaborately engraved. First appearing during the Victorian era, they remained popular throughout the Edwardian period. There have been many revivals throughout the decades thereafter.

Today's Word: HAMSA

Arabic for "five," a HAMSA is a five-fingered, hand-shaped amulet popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa. In Arabic culture, the Hamsa also represents the hand of Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. While its roots are in Islam, the Hamsa has also taken on significance in Judaism. The five fingers of the Hamsa represent the five books of the Torah, and the number 5 also relates to the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, "heh," which is the abbreviation of "Hashem" - one of God's names. Often engraved with prayers to protect the user from harm, the Hamsa is worn as jewelry, or is hung on the wall, to protect against the evil eye.

Today's WORD-A-DAY: LACE PORCELAIN

Have you ever wondered how they made those old porcelain figures with the lacy dresses? Well, in the mid 1800s, the first lace porcelain figures were being produced by Volkstedt, a soft-paste porcelain factory in Thuringia, Germany. These figures later became known as "Dresden Lace." So, how were they made? Real fabric lace was dipped into the porcelain and then fired in the kiln, where the fabric disintegrated, and what was left was the porcelain, which was now a delicate, brittle "lace." Since it was so fragile, it is very rare to find a figure with the lace porcelain entirely intact.

Today's WORD-A-DAY: GATE BRACELET

First appearing in mid-19th century Victorian England, GATE BRACELETS were designed to resemble the gates that surrounded estates and castles of the English countryside. Even the heart-shaped, working padlock imitated the locks on the estate gates. It was customary for a girl to give her beau the key to her padlock - a gesture conveying that he owned the key to her heart.