Kaleidoscope effect

Pendant, necklace, ring, earrings, mirror. Romantic steampunk jewellery by Anna Ustinova

Romantic steampunk jewellery by Anna Ustinova
Living in the Siberian city of Tomsk, Anna Ustinova founded her brand Romantic steampunk at the end of 2008. This very style is present in all of her creations. Her handcrafted earrings, pendants, necklaces, brooches, bracelets and rings conquered not one heart in her native Tomsk and far beyond its borders.
Most of her jewelry is very complex and extremely beautiful. It is not just hanging on a chain metal stuff, but something more – true works of art. Traditionally, she uses watch parts and mechanisms of 14, 18 and 24 carat gold. Also, she sometimes uses very rare mechanisms of 1905, 1930 and 1960.
Anna Ustinova received strict education. Her father – a police captain, her mother – a lawyer. The girl was destined to go to law school. Regularly visiting the university, she didn’t have any pleasure in studying. Having abandoned state exams, she began working as a supervisor in the security business.
“- I had a period when I had a terrible apathy – lost interest in everything”.
She asked her guardian angel to return inspiration, and waking up one morning, Anna again felt the power to create. The first person who supported her in creative endeavors, was her husband, Alexander. He always believed in her. His support – a source of inspiration for Anna.
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Amazing yellow flower brooch. One of the famous series of plastic brooches made in the 1950s. Vendome costume Jewellery

Vendome costume Jewellery
Founded as a subsidiary of Coro in 1944, Vendome produced unique style and high quality jewellery. The name origins in Parisian jewelry trade center Place de Vendome, specialized in the production of luxury jewellery for the rich clientele. Indeed, the jewellery designers used high quality materials, such as rock crystal from Austria and Czechoslovakia, sparkling artificial pearls and enamels, metal with gold or silver plated, clear and colored perspex. In 1953, the company separated from Coro, and existed until 1979.
In 1944, the company “Coro” for the first time used the brand “Vendome” on some of its decorations. And almost ten years later, in 1953 appeared a full line of “Vendome” as a subsidiary of “Coro” instead of “Corocraft.” However, in 1957 Richton International Corporation bought the company “Coro” and “Vendome”.
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Photographer Eric Lafforgue. Kenyan passion for beaded jewelry

Kenyan passion for beaded jewelry
North Kenyan tribes of Samburu and Rendille may differ in the languages they speak, but have the same passion for beaded jewelry. Beaded bracelets, necklaces, head adornments worn mainly for their beauty, can also tell much about relationships, special events and customs.
Beaded jewellery is not only tradition, but a sophisticated and evolving fashion. From their young age, the girls receive strings of beads from their fathers. The first layers of necklaces are usually red, as it means the girl is engaged (which can be at a very early age).
Noteworthy, one can spot teenagers by the abundance of their beaded jewellery. Before getting married they can allow heavy beaded necklaces and head decorations. Once married, she has to remove the giant necklace, and give it back to her ex boyfriend, thus to forget him … This happens when parents have already chosen another man for the girl, or from another clan.
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Cowboy hats shoulder brooch. Ultra Craft costume jewellery, 1980s

Ultra craft costume jewellery is collectible and rare, and some pieces are even unique. The founder of the brand was Italian jeweler Luigi B. Guadagno, born May 13th, 1936 in Alife, Caseta, Italy. A son of Carlo and Giovanna (Scirocco) Guadagno, Luigi had lived in Gloucester for five years, formerly living in Warwick. When he was 22, he had served as mayor in the town of Alife in Italy, and was the recipient of the Outstanding Citizen Award for his philanthropy in the town.

He graduated from Naples University with a degree in agronomy. But the fate prepared for him a different way – a natural talent and desire for art led him to jewellery business. As most jewelers of the time, he emigrated to the US. In 1970, in Rhode Island, 34 year-old Luigi founded his own jewelry company Ultra craft Co. Inc.
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Horrified Joan Castle Joseff looks at Shirley Jones, who is trying to touch the stunning Christmas tree made of costume jewelry. American jeweler Joseff of Hollywood

American jeweler Joseff of Hollywood
Born in Chicago in 1905, Austrian by birth, Eugene Joseph was a talented American jewelry designer known as Joseff of Hollywood. He moved to California in the 1920s, hoping to get orders for making jewelry for Hollywood movies. Through artistic creativity and business acumen, he was the best jewellery designer and main supplier of jewellery for leading studios. The success accompanied him until the tragic death in 1948. Since 1950, his widow Joan Castle ran the company “Joseff of Hollywood”.
According to his biography, Eugene began working as an artist at an advertising agency in Chicago at the age of 18. Meanwhile, in his spare time he was designing jewelry. And four years later, in 1927, he moved to Los Angeles, where he studied jewellery craftsmanship. From 1931 to 1935, the work of the young jeweler was in high demand in the Hollywood films. Noteworthy, in 1935, Eugene Joseph founded “Joseff of Hollywood,” and two years later became a major supplier of jewelry for Hollywood studios. He also developed a line of jewelry for public.
In 1934, Eugene Joseph opposed the use of ornaments in historical films that do not meet the depicted era. Walter Plunkett, who was considered the number one fashion designer, said: “Well, if you’re so smart, let’s see what you can do!”
The life of a talented jeweler and businessman tragically ended in 1948. Eugene Joseff died in a plane crash at the age of 43.
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Marion Cotillard For the December issue of the British edition of the magazine Harper’s Bazaar. Photo September 2012. Photographer Ben Hassett. Dragonfly jewellery symbolism

Dragonfly jewellery symbolism
The Japanese consider dragonflies a symbol of military valor, they were sacrificed to the gods, asking for victory. According to legend, the island of Honshu was called the Island of dragonfly. A dragonfly Tunb, which symbolizes Japan’s courage, brings happiness and good fortune. For the American Indians dragonfly embodies whirlwind speed and activity. In the West, dragonfly is often associated with witches (in the English language, the word sounds like a dragonfly, literally – “the Dragon Fly”). Also, sometimes it can share the symbolism of the butterfly, which embodies immortality and regeneration.
As a seasonal symbol in Japan, the dragonfly is associated with autumn. More generally, dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness, and they often appear in art and literature, especially haiku. Japanese children catch large dragonflies as a game, using a hair with a small pebble tied to each end, which they throw into the air.
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Banana Bob Ballerina brooch. Dance inspired jewellery

Dance inspired jewellery
Social dance, a dance-form with roots in traditional and community dances which became increasingly differentiated from court dances during the later medieval and early Renaissance period.
In the early 20th century ballroom dances proliferated, with jazz influences from North America and imports from Latin America, such as the tango, samba, cue-ca, and rumba.
In the 1920s ‘animal dances’, such as the turkey trot, the bunny hug, and the foxtrot were popular: the latter remains as a classic ballroom dance alongside the quickstep and, from earlier times, the waltz. The Lindy hop, jitterbug, and jive were all highly athletic couple dances from the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s.
The 1950s and 1960s rock and roll impact on teenage culture and the growth of discos and clubs generated an alternative social scene. The 1970s influences were Afro-Caribbean music and heavy rock. Distinct dance styles, ‘body popping’, ‘robotics’, and ‘break dancing’ emerged. In turn these reappear as source material in modern and postmodern dances.
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