" Elven Leaf " Collection
Consecrated Silver Craft Collection “Elven Leaf"
This collection is built on two inspirational ideas : first one is drawn from Celtic Fairy folklore materials that mention herbs and plants associated with the Fair Folk, their uses in folklore and Fairy magick. Second one is inspired by fictional elven "Mallorn leaves", from work of J.R.R.Tolkien. Originally, Tolkien described look of these leaves as similar to young beech leaves, so I plan to create some differently shaped leaves as this collection grows. However, I was always drawn to the elegant lines and mysterious shape of Ivy leaves, so I decided to use them for creating these first shapes. Ivy shape was also inspiration for creating Mallorn leaves in P. Jackson`s "The Lord of The Rings" movie adaptation, and I always thouht that this was a very clever take, as Ivy, with its captivating beauty, indeed has rich and colorful background in folklore. So with through collection, I`m blending together two inspirational streams, as first one inevitably inspired the Author himself, many years ago, when he wrote about majestic elven trees.
Elven leaf (Ivy) in Fairy Folklore and magick
It has been told that mysterious and entwining Ivy holds the power to magically bind things together, in this world and the Other. It has been used both as an offering and in invocational charms, to bring one closer to the Other realm. Ivy is associated with hiding and obscuring things and said to be useful in magic of glamour, or when it is needed to misdirect someone`s perception, especially for the purpose of magical protection. Ivy is also associated with life, resurrection, eternal life, but also fidelity, love and good luck, and was magically used for bringing prosperity and increasing possessions. In the past, Ivy leaf was carried in pocket, or sometimes sewn into the clothes for the purpose of protecting the one who carries it, or bring them luck.
In the folklore of Europe and esp. Britain and Ireland, Ivy is often associated with the Otherworld and We find quite a lot of stories mentioning this magical plant. Some Fairy folktales tell of the Otherworldly beings who may turn into Ivy. Some Fairy gifts given to mortals may look like gold coins, but later turn into ivy leaves. We also have accounts of mortals stumbling upon a hole in a hill hidden underneath Ivy vines, or a whole Fairy Hill hidden by Ivy,, which conceals entrance into the OtherWorld. Ivy is also one of several plants and flowers that make offerings and calling charms in some ballad materials. Along with Holly and Mistletoe, Ivy is another plant linked to Winter Solstice and old traditions associated with this magical time of the year.
" Elven Leaf " brooch & Pendant
sterling silver and Rainbow Moonstone
" Elven Leaf " pendant
sterling silver and Moonstone
" Elven Leaf " brooch & Pendant
sterling silver and Aquamarine
" Elven Leaf " pendant
sterling silver and Moonstone
" Elven Leaf " brooch & Pendant
sterling silver and Quartz crystal
Elven leaf in Tolkien`s work (fiction)
Mallorn leaf features in both Tolkien`s books and P. Jackson`s later movie adaptations. The mallorn (pl. mellyrn) was a kind of large tree growing in Valinor, Númenor and the Westlands.
Mellyrn are trees of immense size and were described similar to beech trees, not Ivy, but they had that almost evergreen magical quality and unique beauty : leaves were green on top and silver underneath; they turned golden in autumn but remained on the tree through the winter to fall to cover the ground in the spring, when new leaves sprouted. Galadhrim built their homes on the top of beautiful Mellyrn and used both leaves and bark of these trees to pack their food, make elven ropes.
Elven leaf brooches were given to members of the Fellowship of the Ring and were used to fasten their cloaks, made by elven queen Galadriel.
Each brooch was fashioned like a green leaf veined with silver and Galadhrim were the creators of these brooches. Caras Galadhon, the elvenhome of Galadriel and Celeborn and their Galadhrim in Lothlórien, was built in the branches of beautiful elven Mallorn trees and they dwelled there,
beneath the leaves Lothlórien.
Creation process...
Each Elven Leaf is a Consecrated Silver Talisman, uniquely designed and handcrafted, Consecrated with Fire and Sacred Water on a Full Moon Night.
For this Collection, on my forest walks, I specifically searched for some most interesting and beautiful Ivy leaves. I humbly asked the Forest and the plant if it would give some of their leaves to me for purpose of creating my silver Elven leaves, and I gathered those that were gifted to me. For the construction of bodies of these Talismans I chose beautiful, most interesting, elegant and graceful Ivy leaves. I carefully dried and pressed them, then use them to outline the shapes of silver pieces I was creating : each specific piece is created out of a body of a specifically chosen Ivy leaf that I gathered, so each silver leaf carries an imprint of the real leaf, and each silver piece is slightly different and completely unique and one of a kind.
As for the stones, I decided to choose those with ephemeral quality about them - Moonstones, crystal clear Quartz and Beryl - Aquamarine.
Ivy is also one of known Fairy plants, as I found in my research on Celtic Folklore and some materials linked to Fairy Faith. With its elongated and elegant shape, delicate veins, deep bluish-green color, its mysterious folkloric background and association with the Fair Folk, I found Ivy to be a perfect plant to build this collection. In his work, Tolkien described Mallorn leaves as similar to young beech leaves, so I included some sketches that I made for constructing other types of Elven leaves that I`m planning to create in the future, and will be based on real Beech, Oak, Ash and Thorn leaves. As for these specific pieces, while I appreciate the beauty of Beech leaves, and personally adore both Birch, Hawthorn, ever since I can recall Ivy captured my heart and fascination, and after researching about the plant in Celtic Fairy folklore, I decided to build my design and this "Elven Leaf" collection upon its shape. The name for the collection is "Elven Leaf", not "Fairy leaf", as I wanted to acknowledge both inspiration drawn from both European Fairy folklore and from Tolkien`s ideas about Mallorn trees and their leaves, which symbolic, use, beauty and description in the books always inspired me.
Design...
