Articles and News

Windham, NY—Maija Skrulis Neimanis, a designer renowned for her work with high-karat gold granulation, died November 20 after sustaining a severe brain injury last spring.

Neimanis was born in Latvia but educated in the United States. Prior to beginning her career as a goldsmith, she spent 20 years as an award-winning costume designer for television and films. At the height of her career as a costume designer, by chance she took a three-week course at the Jewelry Arts Institute in New York. Within a year, she left costume design and launched a three-year intensive study in the arts of granulation, enameling, lapidary, chain weaving, and other ancient techniques involving 22-karat gold.

Because her specialty as a costume designer had been historical fashions, Neimanis was understandably drawn to these ancient arts. Using those historical techniques of the Etruscans and Greeks, she interpreted fine jewelry in a modern, yet timeless style. Her collections all were executed in 22k granulated gold; many with pearls, colored gems or diamonds, and some with coins. Her jewelry had a strong following among designer-focused jewelry retailers, art galleries, and high-end retail craft shows such as the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art show and the holiday Crafts Park Avenue at the Gramercy Park Armory in New York.

Bee pin in 22k granulated gold with a Tahitian pearl was a signature piece by Maija Neimanis.

On a personal note, Maija was one of the first designers I got to know in my early career, having just been named fashion editor of JCK magazine in 1991. She was a “must visit” at any trade show, as much to see her new work as to learn from her about both the history and techniques of her art. Frequently, JCK’s publishers would ask me to take some of the Chilton and, later, Reed corporate executives around the shows to get a feel for the industry. Maija was always a stop on those tours because of her knowledge and her patience and willingness to explain what makes jewelry—and the jewelry industry—so different and unique from the other industries those companies served with publications and trade shows.

Maija also noticed I often accessorize with scarves. Once at a JA show, she reached under her booth and handed me a paper bag. “I was cleaning out my old costume closet and I came across this and thought of you,” she said. Inside was an exquisite vintage green and purple Pucci shawl she’d used in her Hollywood days. I still have it and treasure it and think of her whenever I wear it.

She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Andris Neimanis, a sister-in-law (also named Maija), and many friends and family. A memorial service will be held Friday, November 27 at the Decker Funeral Home in Windham, NY. Visitation is at 1:00 p.m.; service at 3:00 p.m.