Revive, restore and remember with Heirloom

Restore. Revive. Remember. Three words are the heart of what Heirloom jewellery is all about. And no piece exemplifies these ideals better than one of my recent commissions. 

 

Most Heirloom clients arrive with a selection of rings, brooches and earrings which they want to see given a fresh lease of life. But the seed for this project was particularly special and unique: a ‘Mizpah’ brooch. In this case, the brooch had been passed down to my client from her mother.  

The word ’Mizpah’ is a place name that appears in the Bible some 45 times. The name literally means ‘watchtower’, and in the passage where it first appears, we read these words: “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.”

The word became a popular addition to jewellery during the 1800s as a way for friends or lovers separated for prolonged periods to mark the significance of their bond, despite their separation. The custom saw a resurgence during the First World War when families were torn apart by the conflict. 

 

For this piece, the client was not looking for the brooch to be incorporated into a new piece. Rather, she asked for the piece to reimagined, for it to be the inspiration for a new piece of jewellery. I wanted to capture the vintage aesthetic of the period from which the brooch came and so sourced a beautiful double heart pendant. Combining it with aspects of design from my Wearable Truth collection, what emerged was a piece which is both contemporary and classic. 

 

 

This was a truly unique commission and I was delighted to help my client reimagine this special piece of jewellery. 

 

Find out more about Heirloom and get in touch to arrange a consultation here.