Kaleidoscope effect

Jewellery kaleidoscope

Category Archive: Symbolism

Red Hat Society inspired costume jewelry

Red Hat Society inspired costume jewelry

Lady with fan RHS lucite brooch. Red Hat Society inspired costume jewelry

Red Hat Society inspired costume jewelry

Founded in 1998 by Fullerton California based artist Sue Ellen Cooper “The Red Hat Society” (RHS) gave birth to a new holiday. On April 25th, Red Hat Day is celebrated all over the world. Actually, it is a “labor union” originally for free-spirited women over 50, and now of all ages. Indeed, age doesn’t matter, girls of any age prefer jewelry and hats of red and pink colors. Ladies gather for tea parties, travel, have picnics, take walks, fool around and enjoy it. Because a free woman can afford everything. In addition, under the auspices of the Society, ladies sell hats, embroideries, and handcrafted accessories and jewelry. The main design of RHS jewelry includes the symbol and official emblem of the Society – lovely Ruby Red Hat.
Noteworthy, the Society with worldwide membership has become the great inspiration for artists and jewelry designers. Among the jewelry companies who created Red Hat inspired brooches, earrings, pendants, bracelets and charms are dozens of well-known brands. In particular, Trifari, Avon, Monet, Tanya Creations, AJMC, JJI, and more.
More »

Symbolic Snowman vintage costume jewelry

Symbolic Snowman vintage costume jewelry

Silver tone art glass rhinestone Snowman poinsettia vintage brooch. 5.5 cm. 1980s. Symbolic Snowman vintage costume jewelry

Symbolic Snowman vintage costume jewelry
Traditionally, most jewelry companies produce Christmas design decorations. Santa Clauses, Christmas trees, bells, poinsettia, and of course the Snowman can be a great gift for the holiday.
However, the attribute of the Christmas holidays, everyone’s beloved and charming Snowman, turns out to be not as simple as one might think. Indeed, his figure is very controversial, and even endowed with sinister features. So, in medieval lithographs in Europe, snowmen appear to be terrible creatures. Winter time, both in the Middle Ages and now, has been a real test for people. Then the snowman was a symbol of danger and fear, with its own bad omens. For example, it was impossible to sculpt on a full moon, otherwise nightmares would be dreamed. Also, there is a belief, that it is dangerous to look at snowmen in the evening from behind a curtain. And in general, it is undesirable to meet with him after sunset.
Fortunately, St. Francis of Assisi, aka the knight Giovanni Francisco Bernardoni, declared snowmen to be creatures that protect from demons. The explanation was simple. Snow is a gift from heaven, which means a snowman is akin to an angel, protects people and can even convey their requests to heaven. To do this, they molded little snowmen and whispered wishes to them. After it melts, the desire will certainly come true. Since then, sculpting charming snowmen near houses has been a favorite pastime of both children and adults.
In fact, molding a snowman is a prototype of the creation of man, and man himself is the creator! By the way, instead of a nose, carrots “promised” a generous harvest next year, and a bucket on the head – prosperity in the house. And in Romania there is a custom to decorate a snowman with “beads” of garlic, as this promotes the health of family members and protects them from vampires, ghouls, and werewolves.
More »

Symbolic coral vintage costume jewelry

Symbolic coral vintage costume jewelry

Spider brooch pendant. Gold plated silver, red coral. 7 cm. 1990s. Italy. Symbolic coral vintage costume jewelry

Symbolic coral vintage costume jewelry

One of the very first materials that humans began to use as decoration was coral. Framed with gold or silver coral was found during excavations of ancient cities. The beautiful gem stone of up to 350 color shades has attracted people for so many centuries. As a result, there are almost no natural corals left in the world. Accordingly, jewelry with corals is becoming more expensive and every year its price will rise.
Like pearls, coral originates in water and there are more than 6,000 species of corals inhabiting salt waters.
However, only 27 of them can be processed, and only 7 are used in the jewelry industry.
According to belief, coral brings happiness, and different peoples used it as a talisman against the “evil eye”.
The Portugese believed that wearing red coral beads helps relieve headaches, while in England they used it to treat sore throat, and in Mexico – fever.
Noteworthy, people in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan believed that coral brings wealth and many children, carnelian – prosperity, joy and abundance, and turquoise bestows victory. Therefore, the combination of red (ruby, carnelian, and coral), blue and green (turquoise) has become traditional in oriental jewelry.
More »

Symbolic 2022 Black-Blue Water Tiger Year

Symbolic 2022 Black-Blue Water Tiger Year

Vintage brooch pendant. Metal alloy, enamel, rhinestones. 5.5 cm. 1990s. Symbolic 2022 Black-Blue Water Tiger Year

Symbolic 2022 Black-Blue Water Tiger Year
The year of the most beautiful Black-Blue Water Tiger is approaching. The majestic symbol of the zodiacal circle promises life in contrasts: ups and downs, love and hate, grandiose accomplishments and great mistakes.
The tiger is curious and practically does not feel fear. Water softens his aggression and pacifies.
The best way to attract good luck to your home is to get yourself a talisman. And it’s also great if it will always be with you, for example, in the form of a brooch, lapel pin, or a pendant. Better if it is made of common or semi-precious metal, and any transparent stone resembling water – glass and crystal. Also, any brooch, pin, or bracelet with tiger’s eye stone will give its owner the best qualities of a predator. In particular, patience, concentration, vigilance, determination, and endurance. Such a powerful energy is very helpful in both business and personal life.
Noteworthy, before the New Year comes, change talismans, removing from your eyes all those that you acquired last year. Remember, the tiger does not like rivals! So, avoid other cat designs – leopard, lion, or panther. Also, for any other accessories choose the colors of the water element.
As for the home decor, the tiger loves natural palms, ferns and other plants rich in green leaves, and, of course, no artificial flowers.
Stripe candles entwined with silver or gold cords or ribbons will also be appropriate on the table.
What to give in the Year of the Blue Water Tiger? Of course, accessories and jewelry with the image of the owner of the year – the Tiger.
More »

Symbolic Sunflower vintage costume jewelry

Symbolic Sunflower vintage costume jewelry

Yves Saint Laurent for Avon. Van Gogh Sunflowers vintage brooch. Gold tone, enamel. 7.5 cm. 1970s. Symbolic Sunflower vintage costume jewelry

Symbolic Sunflower vintage costume jewelry

Van Gogh created 11 paintings with sunflowers, and they are the ones that inspire designers to create jewelry with sunflowers. First, Van Gogh created 4 still lifes with plucked sunflowers. He painted them in Paris in 1887. And the very famous sunflowers in a clay vase were painted by Van Gogh a year later in the city of Arles in the south of France. Noteworthy, his painting “Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers” (1888) entered the list of the 25 most expensive paintings in the world ($ 74.5 million).
Undoubtedly, it was this painting that inspired Yves Saint Laurent to create this brooch for AVON. It is filled with colors and cheerfulness. Just like in Arles, where Van Gogh came for the sun and bright colors. Created in 1994, the jewelry collection inspires with vibrant rich enamels and matte gold.
Although the native land of the sunflower is North America, where the indigenous population used the flower only for food, the sunflower also has a special place in Asia. According to belief, sunflower removes radiation from the soil, that’s why the Japanese plant sunflowers in their fields. Thus, in the Land of the Rising Sun, the sunflower has become a symbol of hope.

More »

Ines De La Fressange vintage costume jewelry

Ines De La Fressange vintage costume jewelry

Heart intertwined with an oak leaf gold plated brooch. 1990s. Ines De La Fressange vintage costume jewelry

Ines De La Fressange vintage costume jewelry
According to these designs, oak and only oak is worthy of admiration and artistic expression in brooches, earrings and bracelets. At the same time, these pieces amaze with variety of designs and the talent of their creator.
Meanwhile, the symbolic meaning of the oak in the mythology of the peoples of the world is extremely wide. In particular, longevity, splendor and power, fertility, vitality, fortitude, the origin of the great from the small, the sacred axis of the world, and heavenly gates.
Born on August 11, 1957 in France, Ines De La Fressange grew up in a wealthy aristocratic family, and began her modeling career at the age of 17. Already at the age of 18, she was on the cover of Elle, having become a style icon for many years. Karl Lagerfeld himself noted her beauty and resemblance to Coco Chanel. Indeed, she was the face of Chanel haute couture house for six years.
After the end of her modeling career, she created her own brand “Inès de la Fressange SA” and registered seven trademarks. In addition, she opened a boutique selling luxury goods, ready-to-wear, perfumes and designed by her costume jewelry.
Produced for no more than a decade, from 1991 to 2001, these gold tone decorations have become collectibles. Noteworthy, alongside with the initials “IF” the back side of each decoration, the marking often include number.
More »

Christmas Candy Cane symbolic jewelry

Christmas Candy Cane symbolic jewelry

Christmas sleigh vintage brooch. Gold tone, enamel. 1980s. Candy Cane symbolic jewelry

Candy Cane symbolic jewelry
Traditionally, most loved and collectible are vintage Christmas and New Year’s inspired costume decorations – Santas, wreaths, poinsettias, and snowmen. Also, no less popular are candy cane design brooches and pins.
A symbol of Christmas and New Year, the candy cane has many legends of its origin. One of them is about the choirmaster of the Cologne Cathedral, who could not calm down the singing boys during the service. The choirmaster ordered long lollipop sticks for the children. Using candies as a teaching aid, he bent them and reminded of the shepherds’ worship of the born Christ.
According to a popular in the United States legend, the inventor of the candy cane was a candy maker from Indiana. He also used Christian symbols in its design. Thus, the whiteness of the sugar stick symbolized the purity of the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ. Its firmness meant the cornerstone of the foundation of the Christian church. And the red stripes represent the blood shed by the Redeemer. Also, the shape J comes from the name “Jesus”.
However, the first documented appearance of candy canes in the United States belongs to German immigrant Augustus Imgard (1828–1904). It was he who in 1847 dressed a Christmas tree in Ohio with paper garlands, cookies, gilded nuts and Christmas canes.
Since then, the Christmas cane has inspired artists, designers and jewelers. Perhaps there is not a single costume jewelry company that has not created candy cane design brooch, pin, or pendant.

More »