Willow Vintage Assemblage

Using jewellery from the past to create distinctive, ready to wear pieces. Each piece in this collection is completely unique. Made using original Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco or later pieces which are cleverly incorporated into modern cuff's and necklaces by craftsmen in Bahrain. 

Although sentimental jewellery has been around for centuries, it took off in a big way during the Victorian era.  Starting in earnest around the time of Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1837, the young Queen gave her country a youthful spirit which reflected her happy marriage to Prince Albert and her growing young family. Jewellery design began to reflect sentimental thoughts and feelings and these hidden meanings began showing up on pendants, brooches, bracelets and rings. 

Symbolic Motifs

Stars and Sun

Stars, suns and starburst jewellery represented symbols for "spirit, guidance and direction" for its wearer - leading you in the direction you were meant to go.

Crescent Moon

A crescent moon was symbolic of "spirituality" and of the "Moon Goddess"

The crescent moon dates back to second millennium BC and is the oldest symbol known to man. It became most popular in jewellery in Georgian through Victorian times in brooches and then morphed into other styles such as pendants. Crescent moons celebrate the feminine moon goddess and therefore is associated with female empowerment. It also symbolizes change, as it turns into a full moon and then back, similar to the ebb and flow of life. 

Birds

One of the more popular and certainly one of the more romantic design motifs at the time were jewellery pieces adorned with images of birds particularly Swallows, which are birds that are known to "mate for life" and they became symbols for "home and heart" since Swallows always return home to their nest.

Snakes

Prince Albert set off a trend that eventually spread through all of Europe when he presented Victoria with a snake ring on their engagement. Her ring double entwined around her finger and was studded with an Emerald on the snake’s head, which was her birthstone.

Victoria’s snake ring was meant as a symbol of "everlasting love" and a love that will "last for an eternity". 

Luck

Jewellery embellished with clovers and horseshoes were also favourite styles and popular symbols for "success, luck, many blessings and good fortune" for the wearer.

Romantic Hearts

The popularity of heart jewellery during the Georgian era carried over into the Victorian era. Hearts which were symbolic of "love, passion and charity". Popular were the Witches Heart, which was symbolic of a lover who had become ‘bewitched’ and ‘Luckenbooths’ brooches in Scotland.

Angels

Angels have many different meanings, mainly guidance and strength. An angel with sword is the Archangel Michael, while the Archangel Gabriel carries a horn. Weeping angels represent death and mourning. Cherubs are often used when representing children.

Bee's

Organization, efficiency, community spirit.

Butterflies 

'The soul', rebirth and re-emergence, change and transformation.

Dragonflies 

Throughout history, the symbolism of the dragonfly is based on its agile movement and its life cycle. In certain cultures it is believed that, like the butterfly, dragonflies represent change and transformations in life and new beginnings, a belief that was also adopted by the Victorians. The dragonfly’s meaning goes more in depth to signifying embracing change rather than fearing it, with the ability to handle whatever the future may bring. 

Griffin 

Bravery and vigilance.

Lizard

Surviving love (lizards were once believed to be fire-proof!).