Artist Statement
I grew up in Corning, New York in the 1950s. As a teenager I spent many Saturdays in their world-famous Glass Museum. Through my interests in history I became especially intrigued with the color and creativity of ancient Egyptian, Roman, and Venetian glass beads and pendants.

Fifty years later, in 2005, I retired from college teaching and corporate marketing. Recalling my good old days in Corning, I began buying ancient glass artifacts and intaglios, carved stone seals used by scribes millennia ago. The histories and sacred meanings behind these artifacts continue to fascinate me.

In 2006 I started designing and selling my own jewelry, often inspired by classical designs, sometimes incorporating artifacts from my collection. In 2008 I met an amazing metalsmith here in Portland. He found ways to delicately cast, in silver and in gold, some of my ancient objects as well as my ever-evolving designs.

Today, my jewelry studio, Adorna, is passionately eclectic, with designs tending toward the simple and bold. I make what I like, often influenced by the ancients. And, when folks respond positively, all of us get to make history!

About Sam Cole
Sam Cole began his jewelry design and production company in 2006. Formerly Beaded Treasures, he’s now Adorna. His studio is a tiny little place illuminated with great joy. He turns out an eclectic array of bold and simple adornments. Because Sam’s passionate about ancient history, some of his jewelry incorporates authentic glass, stone and metal artifacts, each with its own “history card.”  He also produces several dozen exclusive, modern designs to ensure that current generations will uniquely create their own histories.

Artist Code: SC