Symbolism

8 Feb

Finding meaning

People, very often, find their own symbolism and meaning for a piece of jewellery. Items of jewellery are predisposed to having sentimental values and memories attached to them. Jewellery is sometimes the only belonging people will keep as a keepsake if someone dies, or someone gives to another as a sign or love or affection. I was inspired by a visit to The Pre-Raphaelite exhibition I visited a couple of years ago, and by participation in an exhibition which was named the Language of Flowers, with the Society Of Botanical Artists.

Secret language

The Victorians created a secret language which could be used in art and jewellery to send a message. An inclusion of a piece of turquoise in a piece of jewellery would mean ‘Forget-me-not’, rosemary would mean remember, Oak symbolises strength, Ivy represents fidelity and loyalty and adding an emerald to a work could symbolise hope. In creating this body of work I have noticed a couple of things. The first is that people tend to have an attraction to or have an affinity to different animals or talismans, whether it's to do with a memory or experience or they simply just ‘like’ that particular creature or plant. Secondly, many things in the world around have symbolism in more than one culture.