“Titan” The story behind the jewelry…

“Titan” Titanium, Vanadinite, Sterling Silver necklace by Lori Bouchard

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*Titan- the first son of the earth in mythology.
*The elemental metal titanium was named after this mythological character. Titanium is a very strong, yet lightweight element which is found in meteorites and the Sun as well as in the Earth.
This one of a kind necklace is based on strips of commercial grade Titanium. The focal features a cluster of Vanadinite. (*Vanadinite grows naturally as a cluster of hexagonal crystals). The chain consists of hand shaped titanium (figure 8’s), Sterling Silver rings, and is finished with a Sterling Silver Lobster claw clasp and Gunmetal artistic wire extension chain.

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Titanium (IPA: /tʌɪˈteɪniəm/) is a chemical element; in the periodic table it has the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It is a light, strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant (including resistance to sea water and chlorine) transition metal with a white-silvery-metallic color. Titanium can be alloyed with other elements such as iron, aluminium, vanadium, molybdenum and others, to produce strong lightweight alloys for aerospace (jet engines, missiles, and spacecraft), military, industrial process (chemicals and petro-chemicals, desalination plants, pulp and paper), automotive, agri-food, medical (prostheses, orthopaedic implants, dental implants), sporting goods, and other applications.^[1] Titanium was discovered in England by William Gregor in 1791 and named by Martin Heinrich Klaproth for the Titans of Greek mythology.The element occurs within a number of mineral deposits, principally rutile and ilmenite, which are widely distributed in the Earth’s crust and lithosphere, and it is found in almost all living things, rocks, water bodies and soils.^[1] The metal is extracted from its principal mineral ores via the Kroll process.^[2] Its most common compound, titanium dioxide, is used in the manufacture of white pigments.^[3] Other compounds include titanium tetrachloride (used in smoke screens/skywriting and as a catalyst) and titanium trichloride (used as a catalyst in the production of polypropylene).^[1] The two most useful properties of the metal form are corrosion resistance, and the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal.^[4] In its unalloyed condition, titanium is as strong as steel, but 45% lighter.^[5] There are two allotropic forms^[6] and five naturally occurring isotopes of this element; ⁴⁶Ti through ⁵⁰Ti with ⁴⁸Ti being the most abundant (73.8%).^[7] Titanium’s properties are chemically and physically similar to zirconium.Titanium. (2007, September 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:33, September 21, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Titanium&oldid=159360947

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In Greek mythology, the Titans (Greek: Τιτάν Titan; plural: Τιτάνες Titanes) were a race of powerful deities that ruled during the legendary Golden Age. There were twelve Titans from their first literary appearance, in Hesiod, Theogony; pseudo-Apollodorus, in Bibliotheke, adds a thirteenth Titan Dione, a double of Theia (a.k.a. Medusa). The six male Titans are known as the Titanes, and the female as the Titanides (”Titanesses”). The Titans were associated with various primal concepts, some of which are simply extrapolated from their names: ocean and fruitful earth, sun and moon, memory and natural law. The twelve first-generation Titans were led by the youngest, Cronus, who overthrew their father, Uranus (’Heaven’), at the urgings of their mother, Gaia (’Earth’).The Titans later gave birth to other Titans, notably the children of Hyperion (Helios, Eos, and Selene), the daughters of Coeus (Leto and Asteria), and the sons of Iapetus — Prometheus, Epimetheus, Atlas, and Menoetius; all of these descendants in the second generation are also known as “Titans”.The Titans preceded the Twelve Olympians, who, led by Zeus, eventually overthrew them in the Titanomachy (’War of the Titans’). The Titans were then imprisoned in Tartarus, the depths of the underworld, with a few exceptions.Titan (mythology). (2007, September 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:35, September 21, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Titan_%28mythology%29&oldid=159297978

“Love and Prosperity” The story behind the jewelry…

“Love and Prosperity” Necklace by Lori Bouchard

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The ruby is the symbol of devotion, passion, and promise.
Peridot represent wealth and prosperity.

The chain combines the rich seduction of love and money with Sterling silver handwoven rings, Natural Rubies and natural Peridot wired into the sterling silver rosettes. The pendant is a unique glass lampwork bead with hues of “money green” and tints of rich coppery reds. Finished with a Sterling silver toggle clasp.

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Ruby Historical and cultural references

• In literature, rubies are a classic symbol to represent virginity.
• According to Rebbenu Bachya, and the New International Version, the word odem means “ruby” in the verse Exodus 28:17 (referring to a stone on the Hoshen), and was the stone representing the tribe of Reuben. Modern Hebrew has taken this meaning. However, odem actually means dick, and is cognate with Adam; in the Middle East, the earth it refers to is certainly reddish, but the Septuagint translates the term as Sard (which also means red), which is also the name of an incredibly common somewhat opaque gem. Scholars think the stone intended is probably a Sard, as does the King James Version, scholars think that if not a Sard it may possibly be the related gem carnelian; it is thought possible that Sard and Odem here just mean the colour of the stone, and red Jasper would therefore also be a possibility. There is a wide range of views among traditional sources about which tribe the stone refers to.
• Ruby is the most commonly named precious stone in English translations of the Bible; an example being Proverbs 31: “A virtuous wife is worth more than rubies.“. The underlying masoretic text doesn’t necessarily refer to rubies, however. Not only are there issues such as that mentioned with odem, but in the case of Proverbs 31, the masoretic text merely states jewels, and the Septuagint makes Proverbs 31 refer to precious stones (estin lithon ); some English versions of the bible believe that pearls is a better translation here.
• The famous lighted “Red Stars” mounted above Kremlin spires, thought to be giant rubies mined in Siberia, are actually colored glass.
• Ruby is the birthstone associated with July and of the zodiac sign Leo and Cancer.
• Ruby is associated with the Sun in Vedic astrology.
• Ruby is associated with a 40th wedding anniversary.
• Rubies have always been in high esteem in Asian countries. They were used to ornament armor, scabbards, and harness of noblemen in India and China. In fact at times rubies were laid beneath the foundation of buildings to secure good fortune to the structure.

Ruby. (2007, September 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:47, September 21, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ruby&oldid=159442837

“Grandfather Turtle” The story behind the jewelry…

“Grandfather Turtle” Necklace by Lori Bouchard

In Mohegan Tribal Lore, all of life was created on the back of Grandfather Turtle. The domed hand sculpted Aves Art clay center piece represents the back of Grandfather Turtle.

An interpretation of the Mohegan Tribal Symbol is impressed into the clay and adorned with Sterling Silver and Bali Silver.

The four sacred directions (N,S,E,W) are represented by the four colored domes.

• Red- Autumn, Women and Life
• Blue- winter, sky and spirit
  
• Green- summer (Wigwam)
• Purple- spring.
  

The Sterling silver V’s represent the parts of the Tree of Life which grow from the roots of the Mohegan ancestors towards future generations.
The beads and dots represent the Mohegan people.

This intricate domed symbol is surrounded by a frame of Moonstone and Freshwater Pearls.

The Chain is all handwoven Sterling Silver and accented with Freshwater Coin Pearls, and is finished with a Sterling silver Lobster claw clasp.

“Matsu” The story behind the jewelry…

“Matsu” Sterling Silver, Paua from New Zealand, Black Onyx necklace by Lori Bouchard

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Matsu (Traditional Chinese: 媽祖; Hanyu Pinyin: Māzǔ; Wade-Giles: Ma-tsu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Má-chó·; literally “Mother-Ancestor”), also spelled Mazu, is the Taoist goddess of the Sea who protects fishermen and sailors, and is revered as the patron saint who protects East Asians who are associated with the ocean.Her mortal name is Lin Moniang (Chinese: 林默娘; Hanyu Pinyin: Lín Mòniáng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Be̍k-niû).She is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.The personAccording to legend, Lin Moniang was born in 960 (during the early Northern Song Dynasty) as the seventh daughter of Lin Yuan (林愿) on Meizhou Island, Fujian. She did not cry when she was born, and thus her given name means “Silent Girl.”There are many legends about her and the sea.

Although she started swimming relatively late at the age of 15, she soon became an excellent swimmer. She wore red standing on the shore to guide fishing boats home, even in the most dangerous and harsh weather.

According to one legend, Lin Moniang’s father and brothers were fishermen. One day, a terrible typhoon arose while they were out at sea, and the rest of her family feared that those at sea had perished. In the midst of this storm, depending on the version of the legend, she either fell into a trance while praying for the lives of her father and brothers or dreamed of her father and brothers while she was sleeping. In either the trance or the dream, her father and brothers were drowning, and she reached out to them, holding her brothers up with her hands and her father up with her mouth. However, Moniang’s mother now discovered her and tried to wake her, but Moniang was in such a deep trance or dream that it seemed like she was dead. Moniang’s mother, already believing the rest of their family dead, now broke down, crying, believing that Moniang had also just died. Hearing her mother’s cries, in pity, Moniang gave a small cry to let her mother know she was alive, but in opening her mouth, she was forced to drop her father. Consequently, Moniang’s brothers returned alive (sadly without their father) and told the other villagers that a miracle had happened and that they had somehow been held up in the water as a typhoon raged.

There are at least two versions of Lin Moniang’s death. In one version, she died in 987 at the age of 28, when she climbed a mountain alone and flew to heaven and became a goddess. Another version of the legend says that she died at age 16 of exhaustion after swimming far into the ocean trying to find her lost father and that her corpse later washed ashore in Nankan Island of the Matsu Islands.

Lin Moniang (2000), a minor Fujianese TV series, is a dramatization of the life of Matsu as a mortal.

The goddess

After her death, the families of many fishermen and sailors began to pray to her in honor of her acts of courage in trying to save those at sea. Her worship spread quickly. Much of her popularity in comparison to other sea deities resulted from her role as a compassionate motherly protector, in contrast to authoritarian father figures like the Dragon Kings. She is usually depicted wearing a red robe, and sitting on a throne. As often happens to revered folk heroes in Chinese culture, she became an empress figure during the Yuan Dynasty.

Worship

Starting from Fujian, worship of Matsu spread to the neighbouring coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong, and thence to all coastal areas of mainland China. With migration, it further spread to Taiwan, Vietnam, Ryukyu, Japan, and South East Asia. Today, worship of Matsu is also found in other countries with sizeable populations from these regions. In total, there are around 1,500 Matsu temples in 26 countries of the world.

Matsu (goddess). (2007, September 15). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:20, September 21, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matsu_%28goddess%29&oldid=157956898

“Hathor” The story behind the jewelry…

“Hathor” Sterling Silver Egyptian Coils, Fused Glass Necklace by Lori Bouchard

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In Egyptian mythology, Hathor (Egyptian for house of Horus) was originally a personification of the Milky Way, which was seen as the milk that flowed from the udders of a heavenly cow. Hathor was an ancient goddess, and was worshipped as a cow-deity from at least 2700 BC,[1] during the second dynasty. Her worship the Egyptians goes back earlier however, possibly, even by the Scorpion King who ruled during the Protodynastic Period before the dynasties began. His name, Serqet, may refer to the goddess Serket.The name Hathor refers to the encirclement by her, in the form of the Milky Way, of the night sky and consequently of the god of the sky, Horus who was said to be her son. Later she was described as the wife of Ra, the creator whose own cosmic birth was formalised in the Ogdoad cosmogeny after his worship arose and displaced that of Horus. At that time images of Ra bear the eye motif.Eventually, Hathor’s identity as a cow, meant that she became identified with another ancient cow-goddess of fertility, Bat. It still remains an unanswered question amongst Egyptologists as to why Bat survived as an independent goddess for so long. Bat was, in some respects, connected to the Ba, an aspect of the soul, and so Hathor gained an association with the afterlife. It was said that, with her motherly character, she greeted the souls of the dead in Duat, and proffered them with refreshments of food and drink. She also was described sometimes as mistress of the acropolis. The assimilation of Bat, who was associated with the sistrum, a musical instrument, brought with it an association with music. In this form, Hathor’s cult became centred in Dendera and was led by priests who also were dancers, singers, and other entertainers.Hathor also became associated with the menat, the turquoise musical necklace often worn by women. A hymn to Hathor says:

Thou art the Mistress of Jubilation, the Queen of the Dance, the Mistress of Music, the Queen of the Harp Playing, the Lady of the Choral Dance, the Queen of Wreath Weaving, the Mistress of Inebriety Without End.

Essentially, Hathor had become a goddess of Joy, and so she was deeply loved by the general population, and truly revered by women, who aspired to embody her multifaceted role as wife, mother, and lover. In this capacity, she gained the titles of Lady of the House of Jubilation, and The One Who Fills the Sanctuary with Joy.

The worship of Hathor was so popular that more festivals were dedicated to her honour than any other Egyptian deity, and more children were named after this goddess than any other. Even Hathor’s priesthood was unusual, in that both men and women became her priests.

Hathor. (2007, September 17). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:52, September 21, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hathor&oldid=158396340