On Thursday, 1 June 2017, the eminent Romani jewelry designer Rosa Taikon of Sweden, who was famous for her silverwork, passed away at the age of 90. The Museum of Romani Culture in the Czech Republic joins with al those who are remembering this exceptional artist and woman and expresses its recognition of her person and work as well as its regret over her passing.
Visitors to the museum recently had the opportunity to familarize themselves with the creations of Rosa Taikon and her person during the exhibition “Romani Treasure / Amare somnaka / The Secret of Romani Jewelry”. Silverwork (in addition to the musical tradition) was focused on by Taikon’s father and grandfather, who was also the leader of the entire important Kalderash family of the Taikons.
While this family craft had been passed down through the male line from father to son, it was Rosa who took up the family tradition after her brother Paul tragically died. As an adult she also completed an evening course in silverwork at Stockholm University and later more coursework at the prestigious Swedish arts school, the Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design.
Taikon mastered the ancient technique of filigree/granulation, which she observed her father producing. The technique consists of bending and braiding fine gold or silver wire and then using fine beads or grains of precious metal as decorative ornamention stuck to the surface of the jewelry.
When creating her jewelry, Taikon drew on traditional motifs that appeared in her grandfather’s brooches and other pieces (buttons, the decorative silver head of a cane). Ever since her first exhibition in 1966 she has regularly shown her work in many prestigious galleries all over Sweden, with more than 400 such shows to her credit during her lifetime.
Taikon’s designs are represented in many museums’ permanent collections abroad and in Sweden (Nationalmuseum Stockholm, Röhsska muset Göteborg, etc.). In 2010 she was given the state honor “Illis quorum meruere labores” for her contribution to the arts.
Along with her artistic work and together with her sister Katarina (1932-1995), who was a fighter for the human rights of Romani people in Sweden and the author of a series of successful children’s books, Rosa Taikon contributed to the political and social activities of Romani people and never stopped fighting for their rights and promoting Romani culture. In the year 2000 she visited the Czech Republic during the KHAMORO World Roma Festival and the Swedish Embassy hosted a meeting with her.
Mi del o Del la(ke) loki phuv!
