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?
[polldaddy|624309]
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