A gift for Pope Francis from Idar-Oberstein

Biljana Klekachkoska, "Three birds gather around a drop of liquid light on a leaf of lapis lazuli", silver 985, gold 999, lapis lazuli, rock crystal, Idar-Oberstein, 2020.

Biljana Klekachkoska says: "It was my honour and pleasure to design a gift for Pope Francis, presented by our President Stevo Pendarovski on the occasion of the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Rome this year."

Her work is entitled "Three birds gather around a drop of liquid light on a sheet of lapis lazuli". Biljana Klekachkoska specialises in the filigree technique and is respected and known for it as a jewellery artist in her home country, the Republic of Northern Macedonia. nSo she has used the technique of filigree for the two peacocks and the dove against the background of lapis lazuli. The birds circle a gilded drop of rock crystal. The background, a slab of lapis lazuli, is an interpretation of the Florentine technique of mosaic art and represents the sky. The combination of techniques and the choice of motif express the fragility of life. The dove is a symbol of the preciousness of sharing in the freedom of the spirit; the peacock represents devotion to eternity.

With the choice of materials and the new reading of ancient Christian symbols, the artist speaks to the responsibility of building thriving communities in times when those very communities are at stake. Her inspiration for this work was a mosaic in the baptistery of the 4th century AD Episcopal Basilica in Stobi, the oldest church in the Republic of Northern Macedonia.

President of the Republic of Northern Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski presents Pope Francis with the gift designed by Biljana Klekachkoska (MFA Stud.).