Divine Iridescence
Artist Statement
Medium: .935 Argentium Silver, 22k Gold, Solid Crystal Opal, Diamonds
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“Roman and Greek myths have always fascinated me. Not only were they richly connected stories, the myths gave people of ancient times a moral compass and explanations of natural phenomena. Having studied ancient Greek and Latin for years in high school, my bucket list of mythical art to see in Italy had grown very long. At the top of the list was Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, or La Nascita de Venere. This past summer I journeyed to La Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence and there in all her glory stood Venus in her scallop shell - luminous, feminine and breathtaking.
I knew then that I had to make a piece of jewelry to honor this magnificent work of art. I later recalled that Venus was once married to Hephaistos or Vulcan, the god of metalsmithing, which aligns perfectly my medium of choice. |
This pendant features a solid Australian crystal opal that flashes all the colors of the rainbow. Its delicate structure and gorgeous colors remind me of the Goddess of Love and is elevated in a thick bezel to show her status. Three diamonds are set in 18k gold to symbolize Zephyrus, Aura and the Hora of Spring who are the God of the West Wind, a nymph of light breeze, and the harbinger of Spring, respectively from left to right. Surrounding all of them are granulation flowers in Argentium silver and 22k gold - roses and myrtle blossoms, favored by the goddess.
The shadow-box style of pendant is in the shape of the scallop shell, upon which Venus stood. In my research, I discovered that Botticelli had apprenticed as a goldsmith; thus his prevalent use of gold in many of his works. Like Botticelli’s masterpiece, the outline of the shell has been gilded for emphasis and accentuation. |
For dimensional texture, the sides of the shell and the back of the pendant consists of 22k gold soft 'currents', upon which Venus glides to land. Lastly, the 'bubble bouquets' on the bail and the right symbolize the sea foam from whence the goddess came.”