Pearl and Makassar ebony choker, 'Rainforest'

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Pearls cascade like quiet rain from a pendant of sleek, dark Makassar ebony. Known in Bali as arang (charcoal) wood, it bring its own allure to a design by Mariella. She presents the piece on a silver choker. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: Maria Pilato, better known as Mariella, was born in southern Italy near Napoli. She graduated from the Academia di Belle Arti in 1982 and, choosing to take some time out, Mariella started on what was to become a tour of the world, eventually arriving in Bali in 1994. She settled here, where she's been designing and creating jewelry. "The mutual support that I experience here, from those who have become my extended family, their trust and the sense of empowerment I gain from them, has helped me realize my dreams. I have a friend and colleague who is my right hand. He understands me, my ideas, drawings and sense of style. He always rises to the technical challenge of what I envision, and he can fabricate it with his mind and hands. I have worked with him and some of the best smiths for nearly nine years. And then there's the personal side. I've seen some of them marry and have children. Recently we celebrated the marriage between the person who cooks for us while we work, and one of the silversmiths. "I came all the way from Italy and many