From Sea to Masterpiece: The Story of Mediterranean Corals in Torre del Greco and Naples. Discover the fascinating journey of Mediterranean coral, from being harvested in the sea to becoming beautiful jewellery and works of art in the famous coral-working centres of Torre del Greco and Naples. Tania will talk about the history, traditions, craftsmanship, and beauty that have made Italian coral so well known.
Tania Ivaniouchkina has had a lifelong passion for gems. After a brief career as an engineer in her native country of Ukraine and 28 years as a high school teacher in Toronto, Tania found her true calling in Gemmology. She became a fellow of the Canadian Gemmological Association, where she remains an active member. She is an avid traveller and, during her travels, tries to visit places that are renowned for their gems and jewellery, learning about them directly from their source. Her recent travels have taken her to Lithuania and Poland, where she explored the history and traditions of amber; Torre del Greco and Naples in Italy, where she learned about Mediterranean coral; and Erbach, Germany, a historic centre of ivory carving, among many other places. Her dream is to visit Coober Pedy, Australia, and perhaps discover the biggest, brightest opal ever!