Terra Firma Gallery -- Noel Michelsen, Designer Jewelry

Signature jewelry designer, photographer, collector of rare antique beads and Vintage textiles, Noel Michelsen has lived across the globe and forged lasting friendships with people of many countries. A native San Franciscan, Noel has been collecting heirloom objects of art from Africa, India, Asia, and Europe for 46 years, and exquisite eclectic beads of silver and gold, precious stones, findings and antique buttons -- all talismans of beauty, ritual, and protection.

Graduating from U.C. Davis in the mid 60s, Noel returned to San Francisco and the creative energy of the alternative years. “I graduated in theatre, and moved to North Beach. Little did I know that walking into Yones bead store on Grant Avenue would spark a journey of the heart, and my dedication to the intricate beauty and wonder of the cultural history of personal adornment.”

Noel's tipping point use of antique buttons as the closure for her bracelets and necklaces originated in 1973. While living on the southern coast of Maine, Noel discovered a rare and personal collection of antique buttons: “I saw the buttons as art in miniature and began to use them in my work as the finishing touch.”

Appreciation for Noel's jewelry is shared by a family of collectors who value the vision and authenticity of her work. Her elegant collection spans many exotic cultures, reflecting the living Spirit and legacy of family dowry.

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