Latvian Adornment in Australia: Makers, objects and stories of the Diaspora

Click below to read more about the origins and aims of this project For as long as I can remember, I have been captivated by the jewellery worn by Latvians in Australia. As a child, I would watch people arrive at Latvian gatherings wearing silver brooches, rings, pendants and traditional adornments unlike anything I saw anywhere else. These pieces were worn with pride, almost as badges of honour, symbols of connection to culture, family and homeland in the face of displacement, migration and the occupation of Latvia. As an adult, that fascination never left me. Over the years I have searched through books, museum collections, online archives, vintage photographs, auction catalogues and forgotten corners of the internet, hoping to find a comprehensive record of Latvian jewellery made and worn in Australia. Yet despite all this searching, I have come to realise that some of the richest collections are not held in museums at all. They are sitting in jewellery boxes, dresser drawers and family collections across Australia. Many of these pieces were brought from Latvia by refugees after the Second World War. Others were commissioned, traded or created by Latvian jewellers who built new lives in Australia. Together they tell an important story of resilience, craftsmanship and cultural continuity. Recently I had the extraordinary privilege of meeting Latvian silversmith Maiguta Bernstines. At 94 years of age, Maiguta remains an accomplished artist whose work is represented in major Australian collections. Of all the places our paths could have crossed, I found her living just down the road from me in Perth, one of the most remote cities in the world and home to one of Australia's smallest Latvian communities. Maiguta generously gifted me a remarkable collection of books on Latvian jewellery, archaeology, ethnography and traditional craft. It may well be one of the most significant private collections of Latvian jewellery references in Australia.... or perhaps not. That question inspired this project. I am seeking to document and preserve the jewellery of the Latvian diaspora in Australia: the pieces, the makers, the stories, the memories and the people connected to them. This archive is intended to be collaborative. Below you will find scans of book covers and reference materials from Maiguta's (now my) collection. If you know of other books, publications or resources that should be included, I would love to hear from you. If you are interested in the contents of a particular book, get in touch and I will do my best to scan and share relevant sections. Most importantly, I am hoping to gather photographs and stories of Latvian jewellery and adornment held in private collections throughout Australia. Every piece matters. Whether it is a museum-quality artwork by a recognised jeweller, a traditional brooch brought from Latvia, a ring inherited from a grandparent, or a pendant purchased at a Latvian market stall decades ago, it forms part of a larger story worth preserving. Together, we can create a living archive that honours the extraordinary craftsmanship of Latvian makers and ensures these stories are not lost for future generations.