TALISMANS, AMULETS AND LUCKY CHARMS. These, more often than not, come in the form of a sculpture or a piece of jewellery. They were created and used throughout ancient times as potent symbols of protection, bestowing luck upon the wearer and thus serving a purpose beyond the decorative. Fast forward to the present day, and figurines and purpose-specific jewellery still hold importance.
Over time, the talismanic charms of jewellery have survived the ebb and flow of trends. Some of the more notable brands that have dipped into this pool include luxury French jeweller Chaumet who paid celestial tribute in its latest Les Ciels de Chaumet collection, and Miuccia Prada’s Talisman collection from two years ago, that featured animals such as bears, lion and birds. The Talisman collection emphasised the way in which primitive forms have shaped human consciousness. While it is rare to come across brands with a longstanding association with the spiritual world, some have made it their signature. Van Cleef & Arpel’s iconic symbol of luck, the Alhambra, was created in 1968.
The symbolism behind this jewellery seems to be making a comeback yet again, with medallion necklaces getting a boost in popularity thanks to their prominence among Net-a-Porter’s product offerings and symbolic gemstones filling the pages of Instagram. While many jewellery labels have leveraged on the trend, one, in particular, stands out as a jeweller that creates its pieces around the belief of spiritual magic. Founded in 2015, Foundrae is a fine jewellery brand that (in its own words) “celebrates a set of values that is greater than gold itself”. Beth Bugdaycay, co-founder of Foundrae, spoke to T Singapore about the language of mystical symbols and why they appeal to the modern customer.
LYNETTE KEE: Tell me the story behind Foundrae — what is the concept and how did it start?
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