Maria Sparks steampunk jewelry

Based on the use of various mechanical parts and parts of objects, steampunk style is a popular fashion trend, has its fans in art, interior design, especially in the clothing and fashion accessories. Created by Maria Sparks original decoration in the style of steampunk – elegance, good taste and excellent quality. At the same time the main component of all these decorations are assembled stylish parts of the mechanical watches. Steampunk jewelry artist Maria Sparks lives in Oregon, USA. She has been designing and creating jewelry for 22 years. Watchmaker by trade, Maria Sparks has always loved working with antique mechanical watches and has always been inspired by the beauty of nature, Victorian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco period jewelry. Each of her jewelry piece is of a kind, handcrafted and made on an original design by the creator. Maria Sparks steampunk jewelry is not just crafts from old clock, it is the real jewelry art. In the manufacture of jewelry used silver, gold, copper, semi-precious stones and Swarovski crystals. Maria Sparks jewelry pieces are ideal for those who prefer unusual accessories, want to emphasize their style and personality.
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Dancing acorns brooch. Michelle Ong Jewellery

Michelle Ong Jewellery
In my opinion, to view jewellery collection of high quality and craftsmanship is like visiting a museum. Indeed, even if you can’t afford to buy something, you come out full of impressions, inspiration, and with the feeling that you touched “the beautiful”.
Known for the production of custom-made unique jewelry, sold at international auctions, Chinese jeweler Michelle Ong lives and works in Hong Kong. Michelle Ong Jewellery distinguishes stunning complexity of the smallest details. And she carefully considers combination of colors and materials and the use of non-trivial style solutions.
Perfectionist by nature, Ong categorically refuses to release new creations on sale as long as they do not seem ideal to her. Noteworthy, some of her jewels can take months or even years to make.
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Silver pendant Hedgehog in the Fog, on the eponymous Soviet cartoon

Talented Russian silversmith and jeweler, Irina Velikanova lives and creates her artful jewellery in the city of Penza. Irina is truly an artist, some of her pendants, brooches and earrings are inspired by two great masters – Salvador Dali and Gustav Klimt. Delicate, detailed elephant on long movable legs (brooch, earrings, pendant and figurine) is probably the most commented item. Some people even believe that the elephant made by Jeweler Irina Velikanova is much more interesting than the elephant made by jeweler Salvador Dali. That awkward moment when the copy is better than the original. The sphere of interests and hobbies of Irina Velikanova includes wire work, batik, felting, embroidery, knitting, quilting and patchwork, dolls and toys, molding, casting, macrame, papier-mache, painting, scrap-booking, photography, sewing.
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Brooch toy by Carolee. Gold plated, crystal. Elephant jewellery kaleidoscope

Elephant jewellery kaleidoscope
“Seven elephants of happiness” – popular during the XX century in Europe (in the narrow-minded and petty-bourgeois environment) set of decreases from the first to the seventh sculptures of elephants. But as time passed, the era has changed, and elephant ornaments again have appeared at flea markets and antique shops.
They once again put in a prominent place, often without thinking, just out of habit. Seven elephants symbolize comfort, reliability and a homey atmosphere. From the Indians began the custom of giving Seven elephants of happiness – figurines made of bone, wood or other material. Legend says that childless women come to the elephants, asking them for help to have a heir.
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Chinese hair style through centuries

People decorated, decorate and will always adorn themselves. Even historical (archaeological) excavations show that in the most distant times people lacked of the desire and effort to create and wear jewelry. And in the vast majority of cultures, jewelry worn by people were not just something nice. The desire of people to create a system of symbols, signs was very high. It’s all helped to distinguish between tribal affiliation, religious customs, marital status, cultural practices of each other.
Chinese culture – one of the oldest cultures, which managed to preserve its history. At all times, these people considered hair care, their symbolic value to be very important. The way they trimmed and combed hair demonstrated the civil or social status, religion or profession. Negligence, untidy hair was considered a sign of illness or depression.
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Sakura in the wind. Feng Shui trees by Oksana Solovieva

Sakura in the wind. Made of beads, copper wire, plaster, acrylic paint and varnish. Sakura, or Japanese Cherry tree is a symbol of youth and beauty. It symbolizes good luck and prosperity, longevity of joy and peace. According to Feng Shui, sakura is translated as luck, love, beauty. Siberian bead artist and craftswoman Oksana Solovieva creates Miniature trees of minerals and semi-precious stones for interior decoration and Feng Shui. Creating her unique precious trees the master uses various minerals, including amethyst, quartz, garnet, glass beads, and also copper wire, plaster, acrylic paint and varnish.
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Chinese Phoenix Crown

Mysterious blue material, which decorated the jewellery worn by Chinese beauties – kingfisher feathers. The dazzling heavenly color has not lost its kind to this day, even through the centuries. This material is present in the incredibly beautiful headdress – Chinese Phoenix Crown, known as Fengguan, a masterpiece of the history of jewelry. In ancient China, the dragon marked the Emperor, and Phoenix – the Empress. Chinese Phoenix Crown – a traditional ceremonial headdress of female nobility. The particular importance the phoenix crown reached in the era of the Ming. In the above picture – the ritual headdress Phoenix Crown for the Empress Dowager Xiaojie (Ming Dynasty, Wanli era: 1573-1620). It is currently exhibited in the National Museum in Beijing. The crown was removed from the tomb of Dinlin near Beijing. The crown depicts 12 of dragons and 9 phoenixes. Empress Phoenix Crown was worn only during important events: obtaining the title, visiting Ancestral Temple, reception of ministers.
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