This collection of semi-precious jewellery and jewellery boxes come from the ANINA jewellery shop that was located at 21 Rowe Street, Sydney, from 1957 to 1964. The trademark of Anina was a combination of the given names of Niina Rätsep (later Ots) and Anna Louise Alma, the two principals in this business, which flourished in Rowe Street from 1957. Niina designed and made the jewellery, while Anna Louise, who had previously managed ALA Buttons in Rowe Street, managed the shop.

On the death of Anna Louise Alma in 1961, Niina formed another partnership under the same trade name with Ann and Ross Fraser. In 1967 Niina remarried and moved to Melbourne, and when Rowe St closed to make way for the MLC Centre, Ann and Ross continued the Anina tradition in Elizabeth Street. Ross Fraser died in the late 1970s.

Niina Ots was born in 1909 in Penza Shire, Russia. In 1924 she enrolled in art and silversmithing at the State School of Art in Tallinn. Niina and her first husband, Rudolph Rätsep, migrated to Australia in 1947 and established themselves in Sydney. Two years later she joined the A.L. Watson Trading Company, designing and making jewellery in precious metals, and at the same time undertaking private commissions for members of the Sydney Estonian community. As well as the intricate filigree lattice flowers and fan motifs characteristic of her work, she started to simplify her designs and materials like riverstones and Australian gemstones sometimes became a prominent feature.

A retrospective exhibition in 1995, organised by Darani Lewers, a former apprentice at Anina, brought together many people who had acquired Niina Ots's work over the years. Estonian-born Maret Kalmar, Ivy Raadik and Lydia Freymuth decided to give some items to the museum so that Niina Ots would be remembered. Niina Ots died in Thirlmere, New South Wales, in 2003.

This collection of semi-precious jewellery and jewellery boxes come from the ANINA jewellery shop located at 21 Rowe Street, Sydney, from 1957 to 1964. The pieces were designed by Estonian-Australian jeweller, Niina Ots, and Ross Fraser who ran the premises with Ots after the death of her first business partner, Anna Louise Alma.

With assistance from the Displaced Persons Program, Niina and her first husband, Rudolph Rätsep, migrated to Australia in 1947 and established themselves in Sydney. Two years later she joined the A.L. Watson Trading Company, designing and making jewellery in precious metals, and at the same time undertaking private commissions for members of the Sydney-Estonian community. In 1955, Niina formed an important partnership with Anna Louise Alma, manager of Ala Buttons in Rowe Street, Sydney. Trading under the name, Anina Pty. Ltd., the pair sold Niina's jewellery from the Rowe Street shop.

Niina's jewellery had developed significantly by this time though continued to incorporate filigree work. Darani Lewers, a former apprentice at Anina, noted that Niina was 'developing a new style - radically reducing and simplifying the intricate lattice flowers and fan motifs which are characteristics of filigree work. Small spheres and leaves (derived from this tradition) were incorporated with bold sweeps of looped wire around semi-precious stones - often set on curved sheet forms'. New materials, like riverstones and Australian gemstones, also became a prominent feature of her work.

Both Rudolph Rätsep and Anna Louise Alma died in 1961, and Niina formed a new business partnership with Ann and Ross Fraser. This continued to trade under the 'Anina' name. In 1967, Niina married Meinhard Ots and the pair moved to Melbourne where Niina undertook private commissions for members of the Estonian community. She worked from a studio in her Melbourne home. Meinhard Ots died in 1989 and Niina died in Thirlmere, New South Wales, in 2003.

This collection of semi-precious jewellery and jewellery boxes come from the ANINA jewellery shop located at 21 Rowe Street, Sydney, from 1957 to 1964. The pieces were designed by Estonian-Australian jeweller, Niina Ots, and Ross Fraser who ran the premises with Ots after the death of her first business partner, Anna Louise Alma.

This material comes from a collection developed in 2001 and 2002 by museum volunteers who had a connection with Rowe Street, either as commercial occupants or simply as people who enjoyed its lively atmosphere. Attached to the collection is an archive of photographs, books and letters. This collection of jewellery and boxes was donated by Anne Neville.

Jewellery and jewellery boxes (2), designed by Niina Ots and Ross Fraser, sold by the ANINA jewellery shop, Rowe Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1957-1964

A collection of jewellery and jewellery boxes (2) including a pair of turquoise drop earrings, a gold honeycomb design ring and a gold and amethyst ring.

Made: 1957 - 1964

2009/79/8

1957 - 1964