Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Two Souls As One



An antique 1800s carved French meerschaum reliquary of The Virgin Mary and The Child Jesus captures the loving bond between mother and child.

Heart stopping Picasso Czech glass and crystal beads combined with ethnic carved bone beads accentuate the brass frame of the reliquary and the carved meerschaum.

Beautiful down to the last detail. Definitely a one of a kind necklace.

Framed meerschaum measures 2.75". Chain measures 10.5" closed.

Note: There is no domed glass.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Ex-Votos




"An ex voto is a votive offering to a saint or divinity. It is given in fulfillment of a vow (hence the Latin term, short for "ex voto suscepto," or "from the vow made") or in gratitude or devotion. Ex-votos are placed in a church or chapel where the worshiper seeks grace or wishes to give thanks. The destination of pilgrimages often include shrines decorated with ex-votos.

Ex-votos can take a wide variety of forms. They are not only intended for the religious figure, but also as a testimony to later visitors of the help received. As such they may include texts explaining a miracle attributed to the holy figure, or symbols such as a painted or modeled reproduction of a miraculously healed body part, or a directly related item such as a crutch given by a person formerly lame."

Source: http://www.silvercollection.it/dictionaryexvoto.html

The first photo shows several ex-votos I've amassed along the way. The second photo shows what I would like my collection to look like someday. Wow! The third photo shows a shrine in Germany to the Virgin and Child with hundreds of ex votos pinned to the gown.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Art Deco Flapper Enamel Filigree Paste Rondelle Necklace




You can find this stunning Art Deco necklace at Metal Corset II.

Black enamel filigree and bezel set paste rondelles separated by brass tube links highlight this amazing period piece. Not to mention the amazing patina it has acquired over the years.

It measures 60 3/4" in length and closes with a spring ring clasp. Could be worn doubled or tripled.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Memento Mori-Artful Mourning







Memento Mori is a Latin phrase translated as, "Remember you must die," to remind people of their own mortality.

Memento mori jewelry are fascinating objects of artistry and are becoming rarer and rarer. Starting around 1650 after millions succumbed to the black plague (and a high rate of mortality in general), people wore memento mori jewelry as a reminder, "I will be judged in the end," so to live life to the fullest and purely.

There are many mixed connotations associated with Memento Moris, but many pieces truly are a statement of living rather than death.

From my own private collection, a mid-century Victorian memento mori locket with a lock of blonde hair and an hand carved ox bone skull set with cut steel eyes. This locket is clearly a mourning memento mori hence the lock of hair probably from a deceased loved one encapsulated for an eternity inside the locket.

It is black glass combined with what appears to be Pinchbeck. The front is set with an old mine cut paste stone. It measures 1.77" x 1.10". Truly a spectacular piece.