Worn by Kings and the Clergy throughout history, Amethyst was once considered more rare and valuable than a diamond. One legend says that Saint Valentine wore an Amethyst signet ring with the image of Cupid carved into the gem.
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A love letter.
With Valentines day having passed and Mothers day approaching (Sun March 15th 2015), I was reminded of a collection I designed for Spring/Summer 2011. The love letter collection. This was inspired by an old postcard I found, postmarked 1961. It pictured a beautiful bunch of Anenomies . On the reverse was a love letter.
“No flower in all the world would be fragrant or beautiful enough to represent you. The surprise and freshness of a snowdrop, the scarlet excitement of roses the wistful tenderness of chrysanthemums. These are just three of the things you are!”
The story.
I loved how the author had personalised the poem "Roses are red Violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you" It reminded me of the romance of an English garden in summertime, filled with heady scented blooms, and the buzzing of bees.
The gemstones.
Elegant pale pink Rose Quartz, pretty pink Freshwater Pearl, soft aqua Amazonite, with zingy acid-green Serpentine, and cool grey Labradorite.
Vibrant Turquoise, citrus orange Carnelian, bright white Freshwater Pearl, translucent lavender Amethyst, with sparkling Rock Crystal and Drusy agate.
The collection.
Here are a selection of pieces from the Love Letter Collection, SS 2011.
V&A Maharaja Collection.
I’m always happy to design jewellery to commission. So in 2009 when I was asked by the Victoria and Albert Museum to design an exclusive collection for their shop I was delighted. This was to be launched in line with the 2009/10 exhibition “Maharaja: the Splendour of India's Royal Courts”
“The word maharaja, literally ‘great king’, conjures up a vision of splendour and magnificence.”
This was a really exciting commission and another great excuse to visit the V&A, one of my favourite places for design inspiration.
The Exhibition
The exhibition at the V&A spanned the period from the beginning of the 18th century to the mid-20th century, bringing together over 250 magnificent objects, many being lent from India’s royal collections for the first time. It examined the changing role of the maharajas within a social and historical context and reveals how their patronage of the arts, both in India and Europe, resulted in splendid and beautiful objects symbolic of royal status, power and identity.
The inspiration
Visiting the V&A before the Maharajah exhibition there was already a wealth of inspiration, for me to draw on, in the museum’s permanent display of jewellery.
I loved the turban ornaments. Combinations of rich oranges, reds and gold with pops of Emerald green yellow Citrine and pink Ruby... antique pewter grey and silver with jewelled accents of blue Lapis Lazuli, and purple Amethyst.
I was also inspired by the multi strands of tiny white Pearls used in earrings and neckpieces, and the use of textiles and threads, often metallic, wrapped and braided.
The Collection
Here are a selection of pieces from the finished Maharajah collection. The collection was available for sale at the V&A museum shop in 2009/10.
