We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Nehama a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Initially I was pursuing an academic route, though I always loved to create. I had finished my degree in Art History, and wasn’t sure where to go from there. I took a jewelry making class just for the fun of it and I was hooked. I ended up studying jewelry making in an 18-month program, with additional specialized courses and I knew then that I wanted to pursue this path professionally.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started my business after graduating with an art history degree and studying jewelry making. I think I make good use of the two disciplines in my own personal work as it has a timeless feel, and at times references antique jewelry (for example antique photographic jewels or amulets), yet it is distinctly modern. I also collect antique mourning and sentimental jewelry. That is, jewelry meant to commemorate people who died as well as tokens of love and affection (there is an overlap!). After collecting for about 10 years, I started also selling this type of jewelry and educating others by co-curating an exhibition for the Massachusetts Historical Society and writing a book entitled “In Death Lamented: The Tradition of Anglo-American Mourning Jewelry”. I also have been lecturing in person and online since 2012.
While I’m not a jewelry appraiser, I am able to help people understand the symbolism, materials, era, country of origin of many of these types of jewels.

I feel that my own work with gems and metals as a working jeweler has enabled me to better understand antique jewelry, and conversely, I feel that working with the antique mourning jewels has informed my own work. Therefore, for me, there’s really a link between these two businesses; my own handmade jewelry and the antique memorial jewelry I lecture about and sell. I’m proud of the way I’ve been able to bring the two together.

I’m always learning and exploring and my varied interests lead me in ways I might not expect. I don’t characterize myself or my businesses as a brand. I suppose that’s because I feel there is something always evolving in a very fluid, non-static way for me, and I tend to identify brands as things that can be boxed in and labeled and don’t change.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my business on social media by presenting the history behind the jewelry, thereby creating a story that people could engage with. This is particularly true for the antique memorial jewels I collect and sell. I also try to showcase other collectors and dealers whose work I admire as I believe we are a global community and we can all support one another. That way, everyone benefits.

My advice in building a social media presence is, have good photos and videos, have interesting content related to those, be professional and kind to those who contact you, and help uplift others in the industry.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission and goal is to share the beauty and history I find in gems and jewelry. Even if people are only looking to learn and admire, that’s wonderful. Of course I love sending these jewels, be they antique or my own personal handmade pieces, to people because they connect with them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sarahnehama.com
• Instagram: @sarahnehama and @sarahnehamajewelry

Image Credits
Image credits courtesy of Sarah Nehama