Jewelry Gallery
Artifacts, found objets d'art, meaningful stones and other materials all go into Hillesø Designs Jewelry. This Gallery presents examples of the jewelry pieces produced by Randi Hillesø. Following the philosophy of global wearables, these pieces represent a fusion of ancient artifacts reassembled in a contemporary way. All have symbolic meanings.
More items will be available for sale soon. Bookmark this page!
Asian Artifact Necklaces
The Cicada
The Cicada is an ancient Chinese symbol for rebirth and immortality, similar to the Egyptian scarab. The cicada survives living underground for a long period of time, then emerges to fly into the sky. Spirituality, the cicada is said to aid in your spiritual awakening, the emergence of your true self, uncovering hidden truths and secrets that have been long forgotten from the current or past lives. The necklaces shown here each have a unique carved wooden Cicada pendant. All have wood beads, individualized with antique Tibetan
brass buttons, carved jade prayer wheel beads, or carved jade longevity beads.
Jade Symbols
Jade comes in many colors and has been carved over the millennia into many forms. Jade represents love, health, wealth and long life. It also
represents courage, wisdom, compassion and justice.
Here various symbols were used in necklaces:
Long life – with generosity, beauty and purity. The jade pendant is combined with yellow horn, wood and additional carved jade
longevity beads.
The Endless Knot – a life uninterrupted by obstacles. Knot pendant, carved prayer wheel beads and all other beads made from Hsiu jade.
The Bat – prosperity, happiness, longevity and good fortune. Made with old Peking glass beads and Ghana coconut disks. Carved pendant
is onyx.
The Horse – bearer of good things, represents speed, power and perseverance. Onyx pendant is combined with red horn, Peking glass,
Ghana coconut disks, and two black “lace” glass beads.
The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
Chinese legend tells us about a group of Taoist mystics that lived over 1600 years ago in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. They were scholars, writers,
artists and musicians who retreated to the countryside during times of political upheaval. They were said to be anarchists avoiding the chaos of their times. It is also part of the legend that they completely enjoyed their “retirement and stressed the pleasures of ale, personal freedom, spontaneity and the celebration of Nature. This necklace features a carved bone pendant of the 7 Sages, finished out with wood and bone beads.
African Artifact Necklaces
Fulani Glass Beads
During the European colonization of Africa starting in the 1870’s, glass trade beads were created as a type of currency. These beads were made in the glass blowing traditions of Czechoslovakia. They were called Don Don Sole Beads, or Mali Wedding Beads, especially prized by the Fulani women of Mali. They were presented to the bride on their wedding days.
The Ethiopian Cross
Ethiopia embraced Christianity as early as the 1st century CE. The Ethiopian Cross, also known as the Coptic Cross, became a symbol of Orthodox Christianity. Here, the Cross is in brass, combined with Nigerian brass beads, and glass trade beads.
More items will be available for sale soon. Bookmark this page!
Asian Artifact Necklaces
The Cicada
The Cicada is an ancient Chinese symbol for rebirth and immortality, similar to the Egyptian scarab. The cicada survives living underground for a long period of time, then emerges to fly into the sky. Spirituality, the cicada is said to aid in your spiritual awakening, the emergence of your true self, uncovering hidden truths and secrets that have been long forgotten from the current or past lives. The necklaces shown here each have a unique carved wooden Cicada pendant. All have wood beads, individualized with antique Tibetan
brass buttons, carved jade prayer wheel beads, or carved jade longevity beads.
Jade Symbols
Jade comes in many colors and has been carved over the millennia into many forms. Jade represents love, health, wealth and long life. It also
represents courage, wisdom, compassion and justice.
Here various symbols were used in necklaces:
Long life – with generosity, beauty and purity. The jade pendant is combined with yellow horn, wood and additional carved jade
longevity beads.
The Endless Knot – a life uninterrupted by obstacles. Knot pendant, carved prayer wheel beads and all other beads made from Hsiu jade.
The Bat – prosperity, happiness, longevity and good fortune. Made with old Peking glass beads and Ghana coconut disks. Carved pendant
is onyx.
The Horse – bearer of good things, represents speed, power and perseverance. Onyx pendant is combined with red horn, Peking glass,
Ghana coconut disks, and two black “lace” glass beads.
The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
Chinese legend tells us about a group of Taoist mystics that lived over 1600 years ago in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. They were scholars, writers,
artists and musicians who retreated to the countryside during times of political upheaval. They were said to be anarchists avoiding the chaos of their times. It is also part of the legend that they completely enjoyed their “retirement and stressed the pleasures of ale, personal freedom, spontaneity and the celebration of Nature. This necklace features a carved bone pendant of the 7 Sages, finished out with wood and bone beads.
African Artifact Necklaces
Fulani Glass Beads
During the European colonization of Africa starting in the 1870’s, glass trade beads were created as a type of currency. These beads were made in the glass blowing traditions of Czechoslovakia. They were called Don Don Sole Beads, or Mali Wedding Beads, especially prized by the Fulani women of Mali. They were presented to the bride on their wedding days.
The Ethiopian Cross
Ethiopia embraced Christianity as early as the 1st century CE. The Ethiopian Cross, also known as the Coptic Cross, became a symbol of Orthodox Christianity. Here, the Cross is in brass, combined with Nigerian brass beads, and glass trade beads.