Ethos
Mystics and Sages is a Black woman-owned jewelry brand that showcases the artisanal jewelry designs of the Tuareg tribe. Our mission is to preserve this aspect of our global craft heritage by creating artisanal jobs. Mystics and Sages creates luxury artisanal jewelry that celebrates the culture and history of the Tuareg tribe.
Mystics and Sages began with a gift—a small half-moon necklace encircled with tiny black onyx beads, given to Baiyinah our founder, by her father upon his return from a trip to West Africa. This sparked her curiosity, leading her to learn about the rich cultural traditions of the Tuareg. Tuareg jewelry is not merely for adornment; each piece is imbued with rich folklore, geometric motifs, and archaic symbolism representing spirituality, the environment, and cosmology. The Tuareg are a historically nomadic community of people found in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Libya, and Algeria. They have been widely popularized due to their distinctive beauty, rich culture, large white riding camels, and shimmering indigo dress and veils. Despite facing challenges from colonial powers, outsiders, drought, famine, and modern governments, the Tuareg have maintained their resilience and independence, which has contributed to their almost mythic quality. Their history, deeply rooted in the Amazigh identity, spans more than seven thousand years and reflects a profound aspect of their enduring cultural heritage.
Artisan Partners
Blacksmiths among the Tuareg tribe are thought to possess formidable spiritual powers due to their mastery over fire. They are considered alchemists of sorts because of their ability to transform, shape, and refine metal. Specialists in woodwork, leatherwork, and metal work, they are capable of making a camel saddle, twisting a rope, sewing and decorating leather pillows, and making and repairing traditional arms (swords, lances , daggers, knives, etc). Furthermore, they know how to melt and mold silver to create bracelets and necklaces. Because they work with fire, bending and dominating metals with their forges, the inadan (smiths and artists) are held in high esteem. This ability is presumed to give them access to the underworld, the world of the spirits and beyond the grave. They belong to a class, named the inadan (smiths and artists), that holds repositories of symbolic knowledge, which has been passed down through multiple generations. These artisans are guardians of tradition, and we seek to preserve their traditions through meaningful collaborations and fair-trade practices. Mystics and Sages is a social business committed to donating a portion of its sales to various social and environmental justice initiatives.
Widely considered to be the original silversmiths on the African continent, Tuareg jewelry craftsmen utilize an age-old jewelry-making technique known as the lost-wax casting tradition. In this process, a detailed model of the desired piece of jewelry is meticulously crafted from wax by hand. Once the wax model is perfected, it is encased in a heat-resistant mold. The next step involves applying heat to melt away the wax, leaving behind a negative space in the mold. The artisan then pours molten metal into the cavity. As the metal cools, it takes on the form of the original wax model. With skilled hands, the piece is refined, polished, and shaped into its final form. Most, if not all, of our Tuareg cross designs have been crafted using this method.
The Art of Being Tuareg Seligman & Loughran
Tuareg Jewelry: Traditional Patterns and Symbols
Hagan & Myers
