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 " Vilinski Cvijet " - " Fairy Flower" Collection

Consecrated Silver Craft Collection “Vilinski Cvijet” :
inspired by mysterious and magickal Fairy flower found in Croatian Fairy Folklore.

My research for creation of this collection is built on written work of croatian ethnologist and historian, Zoran Čiča, who wrote about  pre-Christian Fairy cult in Croatia, in Their book, “Vilenica and Vilenjak : Bearers of an extinct Fairy Cult”.

Central symbols, upon which this collection is built are - Fairy Flower, Fairy Root and Fairy Ring (Vilinsko kolo).

 

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Fairy Flower

Fairy Flower, called “Oman” or “Popuna” was said to be a mysterious plant which was used by Vilenicas, (Croatian Bhean Fheasa, or Fairy women), to summon Fairies who would  offer their knowledge and help when needed. It was a wild growing herb which Vilenicas used in their Fairy practice and communication with Fairies.
“Signs used for this communication before vilenica and the Fairy were as followed : “She told me that whenever I wished her to appear I was to pick the root of a herb called Oman…””
This herb was also used for Fairy divination and healing and played crucial role in Fairy practice of Vilenicas.

Oman, (Inula Helenium) is a beautiful and powerful plant from the Asteraceae family. It has been used as a medicinal and healing plant since ancient times. Both its roots, leaves and petals have healing and beautifying properties. It has large open faced flowers with slender rayed petals in yellow and deep orange-yellow, and ovate to cordate large leaves.
Oman is quite a sight to behold when seen on misty fields, backlighted with golden rays of setting sun. it truly evokes a feeling of magick and Otherworldliness.
Its slender, ephemeral-looking petals, sun-like shape, entwining roots and shielding leaves inspired me to try and craft them in silver – turning the flower, with both its blooms, roots and leaves into silver talismans.




 

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Inula Helenium

" Vilinski Cvijet " brooch
sterling silver and Citrine

" Vilinski Cvijet 1 " pendant
sterling silver and Quartz crystal

" Vilinski Cvijet 2 " pendant
sterling silver and Quartz crystal

" Vilinski Korijen 1 " pendant
sterling silver and raw Calcite

" Vilinski Korijen 2 " pendant
sterling silver and Quartz Crystal

Vilinsko Kolo

 

Vilinsko kolo is a mysterious circular space,  a Fairy ring, found in nature, which is said to be a sacred space where Vile (Fairies) dance at night. These Fairy Rings are often found in and around mountains, forests and particular fileds. The Fairy disease, called “Vilinska bolest” is contracted by unlucky mortals who step, willingly or unwillingly, on or inside Vilinsko Kolo.

“people still believe that a man can be taken ill of the so-called “fairy disease” if he treads at night where the fairies had danced.Sometimes he can be cured, and sometimes not…”

My silver "Fairy Rings" incorporate mysterious swirl of Fairy dance, and I decided to leave them opened, to express movement of this magickal Otherworldly act.

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" Bunari ", Rajčica

" Vilinsko Kolo 1 " pendant
sterling silver and Quartz crystal

" Vilinsko Kolo 2 " pendant
sterling silver and Citrine

Vile

 

“Vile” (Fairies), mostly known among South Slavs, are otherworldly, female, non-human beings, sometimes also mentioned as spirits of nature, of an ambivalent relationship with humans.

They are said to be lithe and beautiful, having long and fair, flowing hair, often described wearing ethereal white gowns. It is said that Vile can be found in forests, mountains, and by specific bodies of water where they sometimes can be seen combing their flowy tresses. They are said to be of ambivalent nature, can be capricious and revengeful  when angered, but also generous towards those they choose as their favorites. Vile possess otherworldly powers and are able in the art of healing, may act with malice towards mortals, cause afflictions, death, failing of crops and storms and steal mortals and human children; but they may also offer help, knowledge and gifts - like magickal objects, healing, foresight and blessings.

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" Vilinski Cvijet " bookmark
sterling silver and Quartz crystal

Each Consecrated Silver Talisman is uniquely designed and handcrafted, Consecrated with Fire and Sacred Water on a Full Moon Night.

For this Collection, along with Lunar elements I also included Solar elements, in a way of adding golden metallic color, which I used for glazing over details of each separate Talisman, to give each one a golden glow.

Through this collection, I wanted to express mysterious allure of Croatian Vile and their Fairy Folklore. May their spark forever glows in hearts of those who are called to it.

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About the book :

" Vilenica i Vilenjak
Sudbina jednog pretkršćanskog kulta u doba progina vještica "

" This book traces a popular pre-Christian fairy cult in Croatia and
broader, with vilenica and vilenjak as its bearers and practitioners.
The sources analyzed are historical records, sixteenth-century
literary fragments, theological writings from the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, and nineteenth- and twentieth-century
ethnographic data. The author reconstructs and examines the
morphology of the cult, its influence on the learned culture
(Renaissance literary works), along with the theological endeavours
to alter the social reception of an apparently widespread cult and to
root it out. The Roman Catholic efforts to reform popular culture as
well as the historical phenomenon of witch-hunting and its
consequences contributed markedly to the disappearance of the
contemporary awareness of vilenicas (f) and vilenjaks (vileniks,
vilovnjaks) (m) as the central personages of a rich cosmological cult
similar to those practised elsewhere in Europe. "

Buy the Book: 

Free Download of Article in english :


 

Bibliography :
" Vilenica i Vilenjak Sudbina jednog pretkršćanskog kulta u doba progina vještica "
Zoran Čiča

Many thanks to the Author for all Their help and assistance.



 

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