Mary's Maiolica Arts

Maiolica Beads

Special Notice

For those who visited my booth at Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie Texas, please note that I will be updating my website soon. I will be adding a list the Motto Bead Pendants I have available for sale. If you are interested in a specific saying or color, please contact me via e-mail or phone. I can add special request items to my Etsy store.

Collection of hand painted maiolica beads I make hand made beads in a large variety of designs. My most popular beads are my "motto" beads. Each "motto" bead has a special phrase in Latin or Italian. The beads totally hand made starting from a ball of raw clay. They are hand molded, for size uniformity. I turn my beads into pendants using sterling silver wire, beads and charms. The pendants are strung on a double slip knotted cord that is adjustable in length so that the pendant can be worn as a either a choker or as a long hanging pendant. My "motto" beads are approximately 3/4 inches in diameter.

My beads are based on ones made in 16th century Italy. Hand painted beads were often given as small love tokens for a girl getting married. They were frequently inscribed with the word "Bella" which means "beautiful". During the Renaissance the beads were used as spinning weights.

Latin phrases
AD ASTRA PER ASPERA -- To the stars through difficulties
ALEA IACTA EST -- The die is cast
ARS EST CELARE ARTEM -- Art consists in concealing the art
ARS GRATIA ARTIS -- Art for arts sake
ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS -- Life is short, the art so long to learn
AMOR VINCIT OMNIA -- Love conquers all
CARPE DIEM -- Seize the day
COGITO, FACIO, FIO -- Think it, do it, become it
DUM SPIRO, SPERO -- While I breath, I hope
DUM VIVIMUS, VIVAMUS -- While we live, let us live
FORTES FORTUNA ADIUVAT -- Fortune favors the brave
FRONTI NULLA FIDES -- Don’t judge a book by it’s cover or No reliance can be placed on appearance
MELIORA COGITO -- I strive for the best
TIMEO HOMINEM UNIS LIBRI -- I fear a man who knows only one book — St Augustine
VERITAS VINCIT OMNIA -- Truth conquers all

Latin religious phrases
DEO ADIUVANTE -- With God’s help
DEO GRATIAS -- Thanks be to God
DEO GRATIA -- By the grace of God
DEO VOLENTE -- God willing
ORA ET LABORA -- Prayer and labor
PAX VOBISCUM -- Peace be with you (plural)

Italian phrases
L’AMORE VERO E’PAZIENTE -- True love is patient or True love waits
CHI NON FA, NON FALLA -- He who does nothing makes no mistakes
IL SOGNO ‘E VITA -- Dreams are life
MEMENTO AUDERE SEMPER -- Remember always to dare