EDITOR'S REVIEW
Following on from Tessa Packard's hotly anticipated debut collection Mexicana comes her second offering, No Smoke without Flowers. As with her first collection, No Smoke without Flowers is deeply rooted in a powerful narrative. Tessa Packard takes inspiration from the Hua-yan juans or flower smoke rooms of 19th century China. An integral part of Chinese culture permeating all levels of society, these opium smoking rooms were steeped in ritual and were often elegantly decorated. Part of the adornment of these rooms was the calligraphic script that hung on the walls bearing auspicious Chinese proverbs. From the No Smoke without Flowers collection comes the Calligraphy Ring, featuring a beautifully carved cabochon of lemon quartz bezel, set in yellow gold and encircled by calligraphic script reminiscent of the flower smoke rooms. Behind the yellow gold script is a black sapphire base symbolising the more portentous heart of these infamous rooms.
