#symbolic jewellery
Beware of the Scorpian! ..symbolising power & wealth
Gold Asante (Akan/African) Scorpion Finger Ring. Circa 1900/1950
(The gold itself was also believed to be the earthly embodiment of the sun, and thus the force of life itself)
Image: Detroit Institute of Arts
Hidden in plain sight …
Gold spray brooch of three enamelled flowers. The floral spray incorporates a tiny miniature portrait of King Charles I, set under a flat crystal at the centre of an enamelled rose. It is a fine example of trembler jewellery, which allows the flowers to move, or “tremble”, imitating the movement of natural flowers. c. 1650.
Image: National Museum of Scotland
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/collection-search-results/?item_id=20873
The Thistle for bravery, devotion, determination ..
Gold, enamel, diamond, opal necklace by Lucien Gaillard. Circa 1903
Translucid enamel thistles circled by diamonds. The hearts are decorated with grapes in opal.
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Sacred Hawthorn …
Art Nouveau diamond, enamel and glass Hawthorn brooch by Rene Lalique (Circa 1899 - 1901) Christie’s
(In Celtic mythology the Hawthorn is one of the most sacred trees and symbolises love and protection. It is also known as the Fairy Tree, as fairies apparently live under the Hawthorn as its guardians)
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Designs from the heart …
Bernhard Schobinger ring, ‘mit Halbkugeln’ 2005
gold, rose quarz, pearl, diamond-split in bronze, malachite enamel. Photo: Bernhard Schobinger
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Beetle Necklace, Rene Lalique,
Glass, gold, enamel.
Paris, circa 1900.
http://www.wartski.com/collection/necklace-rene-lalique/
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Butterfly …symbolic gift of wings
Gem-set and diamond brooch, circa 1900
Designed as a butterfly, the head and thorax respectively set with a step-cut sapphire and an emerald and oval and pear-shaped diamonds, the wings set with variously shaped rubies, opals, emeralds and diamonds.
The XVIII Duke de Plasencia and Doña María de la Concepción lived during the very troubled and politically unstable years of the Spanish Civil War. They first met in Madrid on the terrace of the Hotel Universal in 1931 and it was love at first sight, however, the political situation separated them: the Duke took refuge in the Rumanian Embassy while Doña María de la Concepción moved to San Sebastian. Only twenty years later did they manage to formalise their union in holy matrimony in the famous Chapel of Santiago de Compostela.
This butterfly brooch was a present from the Duke to Doña María de la Concepción when during this very difficult period they managed on one occasion to meet in Biarritz, it was a symbolic gift to give her wings to escape the difficult political situation and a sign of a mutual oath and commitment to each other.
Sotheby’s Geneva 2013
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The diverse wasp …symbol of progress & productivity
Enamel, diamond and rock crystal brooch.
The black and yellow enamel body with rose-cut diamond-set head, the rock crystal wings with carved veins and rose-cut diamond detail, all set in yellow gold bearing the Austrian horse head mark for 15 carat gold.
Image & description: Bentley & Skinner
http://www.bentley-skinner.co.uk/catalog/products/19860-an-enamel-and-diamond-wasp-brooch
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The heart ….centre of the soul …
For all you romantics out there ..
“In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours.
In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.” (Maya Angelou)
Enamelled gold heart locket from the French Napoleonic era by Gabriel-Raoul Morel, Paris, circa 1815.
(James Robinson)
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