The Euphrates mirror is composed of a small gilded frame with a sunburst of large lapis-lazuli teardrops topped with citrine spheres. The rest of the frame is embellished with Venetian glass rods in gold and lapis colors, and lapis-lazuli crystal cut beats topped with small faceted citrine drops. The center “mirror” is a quartz crystal cut and polished into a hexagon jewel.
This small frame is 7.25 inches in diameter and is currently in my studio pending being sent to one of my showrooms. And, yes you could wear this as a brooch if you have pizzazz enough to pull it off!
Jewelry for walls.
The Euphrates river runs through Mesopotamia in the Middle East. The area has been called the “Cradle of Civilization” or the “Fertile Crescent” and has supported the Bronze Age( 3300 to 1200 BC) empires of Sumeria, Babylon and, of course, Egypt. Gold and lapis-lazuli were essential materials in the creation of art and jewelry. Gold came from northern Anatolia and lapis came from distant Afghanistan, making it far more valuable than gold.
Gold was significant in the ancient world for its association with the sun, eternity and indestructibility. Lapis-lazuli’s blue color and flecks of gold resembled the night sky and the dwelling place of the gods.
This gold, lapis and copper goat statuette was found in the royal cemetery of the pre-Babylonian empire, Ur.
Found in the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh, Tutankhamun( 1333-1323 BC), this gold pectoral is decorated with a large lapis-lazuli scarab beetle flanked by sacred, crowned cobras. The scarab serves a double function: as a heart scarab and as the ba of the sun god lighting the way to the underworld.
You must be logged in to post a comment.