Renaissance-inspired jewellery

It was a wet and windy weekend down in East Sussex, but we had (mainly) a fun time despite the rain. I learnt that Herstmonceux is pronounced hurst-mon-SOO, not hurst-mon-SO, as I’d been saying it. The Craft Tent was right by the Jousting Arena, and my head kept jerking up every time I caught the commentator saying the -ceux bit!

Indeed, the Skill at Arms stuff, which is basically people doing impressive things on horseback, such as skewering a small bit of cardboard sticking out of the ground or slicing a hanging orange in half with a sword whilst at full gallop, was really impressive. I didn’t get to see much jousting, nor did I see the siege, but the big staged battle was fun.

There were lots and lots of stalls, and I managed to get a nice belt pouch to go with my costume, and I lusted after a lot of other things - including a nice cloak - but restrained myself! Unfortunately, I think everyone else was being equally as restrained, as I hardly sold any necklaces at all. That means that I have about 40 pieces which will be going up online here for your delight, delectation, and purchase!

Please bear with me as I expand this site. It’s kind of hard to find the time to spend on it at the moment, but I’ll get lots more info up as soon as I can.

I’ve been meaning to get this site whipped into shape before now, but it’s been a bit hectic here in Lost Yod Towers, so I haven’t done nearly as much as I’d have liked. However, I have got a lot of photos up on Flickr now, which will make putting up details here much easier! I’ll try to get more info up here soon as I can.

I’m still sitting here of an evening, making jewellery, usually when my brain has turned itself off for the night. I’ve come up with a few new styles since my last post, and am going to put some of them up for sale this weekend. It’d be nice to earn back some of the money I’ve spent on making them, and be able to buy some more materials.

Meantime, I’m very interested in your opinions on things like colour, whether you like matching sets, etc. so that I know where to focus my efforts. I have put together a short survey of eight questions, and I would be very grateful if those of you who buy jewellery could spend just a few short moments filling it in. Just pop along to PollDaddy and get cracking.

If you’re curious, these are the questions:

Q.1 When buying jewellery, how important is it that you can buy matching set of earrings, necklace and bracelet?
Q.2 If you like matching sets, what is most important to you?
Q.3 When buying a period bracelet, do you have a preference for a clasp type?
Q.4 Your favourite colour for pearl jewellery is:
Q.5 What other colour pearl jewellery would you like to see me make?
Q.6 Your favourite colour for jewellery ‘fixings’ (the clasp, etc) is:
Q.7 When you buy stuff online you prefer [to buy from]:
Q.8 If you just answered “Another option”, what other option?

See! Really very easy.

So, I’ve been spending quite a bit of my spare time lately making jewellery inspired by the Renaissance era. I got so hooked on making jewellery for my wedding, I didn’t really want to stop, and as my friend Kate is going to be running a stall at a medieval fayre in August, we agreed that I could make some jewellery to sell on it. Trouble is, I’ve done several designs, and I’m not sure which ones I should focus on making. So I thought I’d ask you lot which ones you like best.

All necklaces are made of glass pearls - real ones are way too expensive - and sometimes with Swarovski crystals. Metalwork can be silver- or gold-plate. Please forgive crappy photos - will try to get some better ones, perhaps of me wearing them so you can see how they fall.

Plain choker
Very boring, easy to make, and thus cheap for those on a budget or whose costume is that of a less well off Elizabethan/Tudor. Currently in black and grey.

Four foot string of beads
They were really into long strings that they could wrap twice around their neck, tucking the surplus into the top of their dresses. Comes in various sizes and colours.

Four foot string with pearls and metal beads
Does what it says on the tin.

Maria de Medici
From a 1551 portrait, this is a simple choker with lots of pendant beads. Various bead sizes and colours.

Memling
From a portrait by Hans Memling from 1463, these have Y-shaped pendants. Again, various colours and bead sizes.

Isabel of Portugal
From the mid-1400s, I couldn’t quite figure out how to link the pendant chain in the first one I did, and in the others I went for simplicity instead of authenticity as i think the original must have a three-way drilled pearl, which I don’t have.

Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia
From 1603, I did two versions of this - one as a tight choker and the other a slightly looser version to sit upon the collarbone. Neither really sit well on anything other than someone’s neck. Couldn’t get a teardrop pendant to hang centrally, so it has to live with out one. Also offset the red crystals for effect.

Queen Anne of Denmark
c1600, and again, it sits better when you actually wear it. I suspect that I’d have to make these to measure - one bead too long or short and it just won’t sit properly.

Elizabeth Brydges
From 1589, a real bugger to make, but very impressive when it’s on.

Diamond choker
Of my own design, although clearly diamond in shape, and not in stone! Can’t be affording to play with making jewellery out of those beauties. Silver or gold.

So, which ones do you like?
Please take a second to fill in my poll - I’d really like to know which ones you like, and if you’re a girl into Renaissance jewellery, which one would you like to wear?

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