Chinese Cord Jewelry

Hsui Chin "Angela" Lin-Welti (Harrison, Michigan)
Jewelry made from tied cords and semi-precious stones is a traditional Chinese art that is more than 2,000 years old. It incorporates good luck symbols into the silk cord designs and the carved jade, amber, amethyst, tiger eye pearl, olive pit, or linden root beads. Larger pieces are used as decorations in households or temples. Intricately designed cords with an attached piece of jade are considered a special gift and are handed down from generation to generation. They are also given as gifts when babies are born.

Hsui Chin Angela Lin-Welti was born and raised in Taiwan. She began tying cords when she was eight years old. In 1993 she married her husband, Jeff Welti, who was an English teacher in Taiwan. They now live in Harrison, Michigan, where Angela continues to make jewelry. It takes her up to nine hours to complete one cord.