Jewellery of Reflection
kiss the memory as it flies

An introduction to this body of work.

Our lives are marked by events of deep and personal significance, whether the birth of a baby or loss of a special person.

The remembrance of past can be embodied in a ring a bangle or a necklace which has the ability to reach back in time offering special memories and spiritual connection.

Some years ago when my mother was ill I made a ring, ‘ring for my mother,’ its inspiration coming from traditional mourning jewellery and the games we played as children. The ring has a divided piece of onyx representing my mother as a mother and a daughter. A pearl runs around the onyx surface protected by a watch glass. it leaves the golden hole representing my mother as the centre of my life and sometimes the pearl fills the hole leaving me to reflect on the life of our family and my mothers love.

Many years later a client came recommended to me because her husband had died and she wanted to have a piece of jewellery made in his memory, to house some of his ashes, something she could wear to stay close to him.

The work you are seeing in this gallery is my personal reflection. Perhaps it will mirror some of your thinking.

Jewellery for memory or meaning historically had hidden compartments for hair or photos. the pieces here continue the playfulness of my mother’s ring

Colours have immediate impact on our emotions, possessing the power to arouse, tranquilize, gladden or depress.

Death is seen in many cultures as black; in others as white. both represent the absence of observable colour.

There is an aspect of symbolism that relates to our inner psychological and spiritual world. Older civilizations recognized the power of symbols, using them in their art, religions, myth and rituals.

Chinese dragons are usually portrayed clasping a pearl symbol of wisdom, immortality and light.

Dragons were thought to fight in the clouds with their tears falling to earth as pearls.

It is Egyptian belief that the heart of the deceased (believed to be the seat of the emotions) was weighed against a Feather (a symbol of justice). If the two balanced the dead passed into the afterlife.

Boats represent a journey or death, a place to house our essential provisions and treasured possessions, a place from which to scatter ashes or a symbol of the receptacle to house ashes or special words.

Many cultures carry a small bag close to the body with special stones, potions and talisman in memory of past connections or as an aid to ceremony or healing rituals.

This work explores, embraces and celebrates all of these emotions and reflections in some way. They are personal to the wearer and symbolic of the memory they reflect.