Wildwood Necklace | Handmade Designer Earrings

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Wildwood Necklace

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Roberta and Talley Starbird craft the Wildwood Necklace in their home studio in Austin, Texas, using sterling silver, gold vermeil and peridot. This necklace seems to have been crafted with an image of the forest in mind, resplendent with the shapes, colors, and textures of verdant life.

Please allow 4 weeks for delivery.

$330.00

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Our Price: $330.00

About

Gold vermeil typically consists of sterling silver that has been electroplated with a very thin layer of 14k gold. The resulting precious metal has the warm tones of gold, and will last as long as any solid gold piece under normal wear.

Gold and silver are pure elements (Aurum and Argentum) caught up in stone deep below the surface of the earth. Ore deposits are formed through the imperceptible, aeonian shifting of the tectonic plates which, over millennia, are brought close enough to the surface for extraction. This process is elaborate and takes time, which means refined gold and silver will always be highly valued, even more so when turned into intentional objects of beauty by the hands of skilled artisans.

Peridot is one of the few gems that can only be found in one color: green. It was called the “evening emerald” by the ancient Romans. Where the deep green of emerald is hard to make out in poor lighting, peridot’s luminous green can be seen even on a dark night. Peridot is the birthstone of August, and can be given as gift on 16th anniversaries.

This stone, known since ancient times, has been referenced in papyrus texts from Egypt dating from the 2nd millennium BCE. In fact, it was known to be Cleopatra’s favorite gemstone. The brilliant green of peridot has been associated with the sun and new plant growth. Ancient Egyptian priests would drink from cups of peridot, believing they would be brought closer to their goddess Isis, who ruled nature. Peridot was often called “gem of the sun” in ancient times.

Artist

Roberta and Talley Starbird are a mother-daughter team based in Austin, Texas. They design jewelry that ranges from the whimsical to the elegant, using traditional metal-smithing methods to create their designs. Roberta and Talley create jewelry because they love the process, finding it fun, exhilarating, and rewarding. They enjoy the beautiful and creative environment of Texas, and work out of the delightfully chaotic studio in Roberta's home.