Linda Caristo

Linda Caristo is a full time professional jeweler who has created her unique pieces of art jewelry for over 30 years.  She is a native of Western North Carolina and her family has resided in this area since the 1600s.  Her designs are heavily influenced by nature and the styles of the Arts and Crafts Movement, Art Nouveau and Art Deco Eras.  She also specializes in Celtic designs. Linda is primarily known for her fine detailed hand pierced work.

Linda had the rare opportunity to learn the plique-à-jour enamel technique many years ago from Russian artist, Valeri Timofeev.  Timofeev helped restore some Fabergé eggs in Russia and his work is highly prized today.  Timofeev discouraged Linda from using the original glass and wire technique in jewelry because of its complex fragile nature. He was right – the wire would bend, the glass easily cracked, and panels would fall out.

Linda loved this use of translucent enamel popularized by master jewelers such as René Lalique during the Art Nouveau Era and was determined to figure out a way to do it successfully.   She did.  Instead of using the glass enamel she figured out a way to use a more durable resin utilizing the same surface tension technique. The resin is placed in hand pierced cells instead of wires which makes the piece more structural sound.  Now these beautiful works of art can be worn or displayed as art and enjoyed without the fear of breakage. Linda successfully reintroduced an old art form made new in her jewelry.

Linda has won many awards for her work, including being selected for an important Art Nouveau exhibit at the Forbes’ Galleries in New York, which included original work of Tiffany and other master jewelers of that era.  Her work has been used to promote art events including The Atlanta Arts Festival.  She is also a juried member of the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild.