The Mysterious Sautoir

Art Deco Sautoir From Christies

Was at Borders the other day and came across an article in an Italian fashion mag about the Sautoir.  The article had great pictures and a history of the Sautoir (sorry can’t find a web link).  Why didn’t I bring the magazine home you ask?   Well, I got a phone call, got sidetracked, left the book store and didn’t think about Sautoirs again for a few days, when suddenly . . . omg Sautoirs! . . . elegant, architectural, graceful, classic, striking without being over the top.

But what exactly is a Sautoir?   Definitions are usually:  a long necklace, can be a rope of pearls, a chain, beads—first made popular in Edwardian days and also in the “flapper” era.   But the Sautoirs pictured in the article were particularly interesting as they were chains that dropped from a “V” shape to a pendant of some sort.

Josephine Baker

An amazing performer and great lady.

Today there seems to be a wide range of what are called Sautoirs, although to me they should be more than just a long necklace, as some describe.  But anyway, now I’m totally intrigued and, dare I say, rather obsessed — so I will be designing and creating a few for the shop.

Edited: January 30th, 2009

Gallery Of Sold Jewels

Due to a suggestion by a cool lady who wears Dominion of Light Jewels, (and a “why didn’t you think of this before?” by friends), I have put up a Gallery of Sold Jewels on Flickr.   Click on it to see many (but not all—unfortunately I didn’t take photos of everything) of the pieces that have been purchased since starting this endeavor just about a year ago — 

Edited: January 29th, 2009

Copper and Lucia

A beautiful lady named Lucia came by yesterday to pick out a necklace for her sister’s birthday.  She usually wears silver but upon seeing the website, was intrigued by my usage of mixed metals and by the warm colors of the bronzes and the copper chains.   She tried some things on and found she loved the look of the copper!   She ended up choosing an “O” necklace for her sister and a Glimmerbloom for herself!  (There are limited editions of both of these necklaces)

Over tea and brownies, we talked about a lot of things—Michelle’s dresses, LA, Anthropologie, and of course jewelry—and I thought I’d write some of what I told her about copper— 

Copper starts out a lovely, bright pinkish-red color and tends to darken to a warm antique patina as you wear it (which is how I like it).  For those who like the brightness, it can be brought back to the original color with a soft buffing cloth.  It’s been used in jewelry design throughout the centuries and into contemporary times — in the early 20^th century Art Nouveau jewelry designers such as J. J. Sommer & Co. worked with copper.  Jewelers of the Arts and Crafts movement loved working with it as well and made many fabulous pieces.   And during the modernist movement, artists such as Peter Macchiarini, Francisco Rebajes and Jerry Fells of Renior-Matisse used copper in their jewelry designs.   As far back as ancient Egypt, copper was recognized as having qualities to protect the wearer, to stimulate the mental and psychic flow of energy and was worn as a sign of wealth and power.    Checkout the jewels in the shop— the descriptions will tell you which pieces are made with copper!

Edited: January 22nd, 2009

Inauguration Day—

“O” for Obama Necklace

What a day was yesterday!  Millions of people, not just in Washington, but the world over—people from all walks of life filled with joy, inspired and touched by the days’ events and by our new president.   Everyone I talked to including a number of (perhaps former?) conservative Republicans was sooo happy!!   Change is a big word. 

What does it mean that now we’re smiling so much—no kidding, scientists study this stuff.   They say that just sending a smile and maybe a good morning or a hello, to someone you see on the street, in a parking lot, at a shop—wherever—not only makes them feel good but sends a rush of warmth into your heart as well.

Send a small donation to a favorite charity.  Even just $5 or $10 can help — ($12 can feed a Buddhist monk at a monastery in Nepal for an entire month—see fpmt.org) and while I do hope you find some DOLjewels to make your own, sending a little bit to those in need is rewarding—again, not just for them but for you too!

If you love animals, adopt a doggy or a kitty.  Or donate some old blankets and towels to the local shelter, or to an adoption service.  They are in great need of these things.  During the holidays we gave our old doggy’s (he just turned 20!) LLBean bed that he can’t get in and out of anymore, and a few extra blankets to a wonderful group that was doing dog adoptions on Beverly Blvd.  They were so grateful and it made the lives of the dogs so much better while they waited for homes.

Just feeling good.  The whole world is watching, and now while living in the present we can feel hopeful about the future —

We’re all very busy, and many of us stressed at this point—but just doing even one—little, itty-bitty, tiny thing can make a difference, and possibly set us off in some new and exciting direction—I have a friend who donated her doggy toys to a shelter and met her future husband!

Edited: January 22nd, 2009

Valentines Day is Just a Month Away!

“Let those love now, who never loved before; let those who always loved, now love the more” . . .  I always loved this these lines that Thomas Parnell (1679-1718) translated from an old Roman poem.

Did you know that the ancient Greeks had 6 different words for love — (more on that later!)

And — insofar as jewels, I’ll be making up a special Valentines Day Collection!

Edited: January 14th, 2009

Equestrian Jewels II

Edited: January 12th, 2009

La Belle et La Bete Collection

The first time I saw Jean Cocteau’s classic film La Belle et La Bete, (at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, California) I fell in love – not only with Jean Marias, (who plays both the Beast and the Prince) but with the look of it – so gorgeously elegant it takes your breath away, and romantic, all smoky shades of black and white and glittering light.

The film, made in 1946, is famous for its surreal quality and for how incredibly it used the existing VFX technology to create mystery, magic and enchantment.  Cocteau wanted the film to evoke the illustrations and engravings of Gustave Doré and the paintings of Jan Vermeer.

 La Belle et La Bete is considered to be one of the finest fantasy films (No. 15 imdb) of all time.  When some months ago, I found a stash of filigree pieces and vintage rhinestones, visions of the film came back to me – and so I put the collection together with it in mind.  I wanted to capture the elegance, mystery and dazzle of the film, the lacy filigree on the Beast’s costume, the magic of his palace and of the jewels he gives to Beauty. 

I’m excited that ten, handmade one-of-a-kind pieces from La Belle et La Bete Collection are now at Kristin Londgren’s fabulous boutique on 3^rd St. in Los Angeles!  Click on the Belle et La Bete icon on the right sidebar to see some of the pieces —

Edited: November 20th, 2008

Catherine de Medici

She walked the halls of power and had an obsession for beautiful jewelry.  Perhaps she wore something like this very necklace—when still a young girl—and her dreams were of love and magical things . . .

Catherine de Medici-Antique bronze pendant set with Swarovski crystals in blue and light apple green.  Two chains—antique 10k gold and fanciful copper with Czech glass beads.

Edited: November 13th, 2008

The “O” Necklace

This morning I made a necklace to celebrate the election — a bronze wedding ring from Africa on a copper chain. Love the shapes! Circles of life and the letter O.

I just put this necklace in the shop.

Edited: November 5th, 2008

Where do I find the “findings”?

Caravan of Dreams Jeweled Necklace

People always ask where I find the “findings” that I use to create Dominion of Light Jewels necklaces and earrings.  Well they come from everywhere!  From all over the world — estate sales, the little old lady down the street (a former show girl in New York), the Paris Flea Market, and strange and mysterious out of the way shops, where dust has gathered for decades.  I try to find things that speak to me, that are special in some way.  Everything is designed and created by hand by me — and nearly all the pieces are one of a kind!

Caravan of Dreams—The Gypsies found this necklace in a meadow near the Birch forests on the Russian island of Buian; alongside it was a small locket with a picture of a beautiful lady.  They never found the lady.  Had she met her lover there and had to flee before being caught?  No one ever knew…

Antique enamel brooch with large blue glass, 14k gold window beads and vintage dancing angel.

Edited: October 21st, 2008