Joden Girl
Baubles, Bling, and Tuff Things
Nearly 2000 years ago, the city of Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius – burying it under twenty feet of volcanic ash. The city was uncovered in 1748, and quickly became a popular stop on the Grand Tour of Europe (a “rite of passage” for upper class young men and women that served as a liberal education). Travelers were exposed to the cultural legacy of the Renaissance. Most returned home with trunks overflowing with books, artwork, and small cultural artifacts like statues, paperweights, and jewelry.
In the area around Pompeii, craftsmen utilized the lava rock, also known as tuff, and carved cameos from it. Myriads of faces decorated rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. These lava trinkets became a sign of wealth, showing that the wearer was well-traveled and possessed discerning taste.
This necklace and earring suite is an outstanding example of these works. I am in awe of the intricacy of the carving… from the individual strands of hair to the veins in the grape leaves. Just think, this was sculpted using only a handheld tool called a graver or a burin. Even after 200 years of technological development, the most highly skilled bench jewelers could not come close to this level of skill. It’s exceptional and extremely rare.
The serene face, the grapevine headdress, and the urns – each of these elements play at symbolism. Grapes often suggest bounty and abundance, and occasionally fertility while leaves stand for truth. The hanging urns are a strong indicator that this was a very early piece of mourning jewelry. When you begin to study each detail – the exquisite carving, the near perfect condition, and the abundance of symbolism, suddenly $12,800.00 sounds like real value.
This suite is available exclusively at Joden Jewelers. Go to our site and look, them come to us and touch.
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Written by Carrie Martin
Photos by Shelly Isacco
