{"title":"Illuminated Bestiary Series","description":"\u003cp\u003eA series of pendants inspired by the beasts and lessons in medieval illuminated manuscripts.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"king-of-the-beasts","title":"The Ruler: Silver Wire Wrapped Pendant","description":"\u003cp\u003ePart of the Illuminated Bestiary Series, this handmade pendant is inspired by medieval representations of lions. It is handmade with argentium silver wire. The stones set in this pendant are a dark orange citrine, lapis lazuli, and jade to match the color pallet of the manuscript that inspired it. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Lion:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIn the earliest bestiaries, the lion was the King of Beasts. Medieval Christians associated lions with Christ himself: righteous, powerful, and divinely ordained. The lion wasn't just strong. It represented the ideal use of power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Plantagenet kings adopted lions as royal symbols, and no one embraced that image more than Richard I or Richard the Lionheart. Richard built a reputation as a fearless military leader, and the connection between lions and kings became deeply embedded in English culture. Then came his younger brother, John I. John inherited the same crown and the standard, but his reign was marked by failed wars, crushing taxes, political conflict, and eventually the rebellion that forced him to accept the Magna Carta.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIn the centuries that followed, medieval writers increasingly portrayed lions not only as symbols of strength and virtue, but also as symbols of pride, wrath, and the dangers that come with unchecked power. The lion remained king of the beasts, but now people were asking whether kings were always worthy of the crown. That's what drew me to this image.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis pendant uses the colors of the medieval illumination that inspired it, but the reason I wanted to make it has less to do with lions than it does with people. For thousands of years, we've used stories about animals to talk about ourselves. About who deserves power. What makes a good leader. And what happens when power serves itself instead of the people it's supposed to protect. History doesn't repeat, but it does rhyme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaterials: citrine, jade, lapis lazuli \u0026amp; argentium silver wire\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCare: Buff gently with a soft cloth. Do not soak or polish with chemicals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShips in a gift box on a waxed cotton cord, ready to wear or give.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Smith and Coil Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43329161003069,"sku":null,"price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/7049\/9901\/files\/7_7f54667a-e8db-4d3c-9109-128ed843a11e.png?v=1783459770"},{"product_id":"king-of-the-beasts-silver-wire-wrapped-pendant-copy","title":"The Anti Hero: Silver Wire Wrapped Pendant","description":"\u003cp\u003ePart of the Illuminated Bestiary Series, this handmade pendant is inspired by medieval representations of foxes. It is handmade with argentium silver wire. The stones set in this pendant are a red coral, London blue topaz, lapis lazuli, and jade to match the color pallet of the manuscript that inspired it. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Fox:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWas the medieval fox a villan or a hero? It depends on what you were reading. Illuminated bestiaries were allegorical, so each animal was representative of sins or virtues in medieval Europe. And in these, the fox is a crafty and deceitful animal that never runs in a straight line, but only in circles. When it wants to catch birds to eat, the fox rolls in red mud so that it appears to be covered in blood. It then lies apparently lifeless; birds, deceived by the appearance of blood and thinking the fox to be dead, land on it and are immediately devoured. In these stories, the fox is a trickster that exemplifies green and deceit. He’s representative of the devil using worldly temptations to trick people into sin and damnation. Like a lot of the animal descriptions and allegories in these manuscripts, the fox is heavily influenced by Aesops fables (with a catholic twist). But not all stories about anthropomorphized foxes were religious in nature. Other, secular tales involving the fox invoke him as a folk hero.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eEnter Reynard the fox. Reynard is an anthropomorphic fox (much like the cartoon Robin Hood - actually exactly like that). He is a trickster figure, amoral, and a folk hero that exposes oppression and corruption in the ruling class (nobles and the church). These stories start to crop up across Europe (France, Germany, and England) during the 12th century. Around the same time this manuscript was published… In Reynard’s adventures, he finds himself and more and more dangerous situations and always evades disaster through some scheme or trick.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eIn the end, he always comes out on top.\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eReynard the fox exposes the hypocrisy in ruling institutions. He’s not “the good guy,” he’s just a guy who is smarter than the people in charge and sees their flaws because he shares them. Even though Reynard is hardly admirable in character, we root for him because he isn’t nobility. Like the nobility and church, Reynard is greedy and gluttonous. He is entirely self motivated. Unlike the ruling class, he doesn’t hide behind titles, ceremony, or doctrine to hold himself above other people. He exposes their flaws by holding a mirror up to them without the trappings of wealth and power. In doing so, he becomes a folk hero, not because he is moral or just, but because he brings the humanity and hypocrisy of the ruling class out into the open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaterials: red coral, London blue topaz, jade, lapis lazuli \u0026amp; argentium silver wire\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCare: Buff gently with a soft cloth. Do not soak or polish with chemicals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShips in a gift box on a waxed cotton cord, ready to wear or give.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Smith and Coil Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43329200455741,"sku":null,"price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/7049\/9901\/files\/10_ce0fde70-98fc-4164-941b-51e2d5dc56c0.png?v=1783460301"},{"product_id":"the-anti-hero-silver-wire-wrapped-pendant-copy","title":"The Mystery: Silver Wire Wrapped Pendant","description":"\u003cp\u003ePart of the Illuminated Bestiary Series, this handmade pendant is inspired by medieval representations of cats. It is handmade with argentium silver wire. The stones set in this pendant are a lapis lazuli, calcedony, citrine, and aquamarine to match the color pallet of the manuscript that inspired it. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Cat:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMedieval Europeans loved cats as much as we do! Illuminated bestiaries frequently include cats. They're depicted in a number of ways, but oftentimes, we see them disposing of mice in little cat sized homes.  Illuminated bestiaries used the illustrations to help tell stories that taught morality and religion. In them cats are applauded for their eyesight, hunting abilities, and beauty. They are the hero of their story, because they dispose of mice which represented \"greedy men, who seek earthly goods.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI also love cats, and so I made a pendant about them, and this gorgeous illumination. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/strong\u003elapis lazuli, citrine, aquamarine, calcedony \u0026amp; argentium silver wire\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Buff gently with a soft cloth. Do not soak or polish with chemicals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShips\u003c\/strong\u003e in a gift box on a waxed cotton cord, ready to wear or give.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Smith and Coil Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43329202749501,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/7049\/9901\/files\/13_cc2343a6-c6b5-4fd2-b6e1-0211058e17dc.png?v=1783469917"},{"product_id":"the-monster-silver-wire-wrapped-pendant","title":"The Monster: Silver Wire Wrapped Pendant","description":"\u003cp\u003ePart of the Illuminated Bestiary Series, this handmade pendant is inspired by medieval representations of cats. It is handmade with argentium silver wire. The stones set in this pendant are a lapis lazuli, calcedony, citrine, and aquamarine to match the color pallet of the manuscript that inspired it. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Siren:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn Greek and Roman mythology, sirens are dangerous creatures known for their beautiful songs. Early stories usually describe them as half woman and half bird, though later art sometimes gives them fish tails instead. They are clever, mysterious, and able to lure sailors to their deaths.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs these stories spread through medieval Europe, they took on new meaning. In illuminated bestiaries, sirens became symbols of temptation. Their beauty and music remained, but their wisdom disappeared. Instead, they were used to warn readers about the dangers of giving in to worldly desires.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese medieval stories also reflect the values of their time. They portray women who are outspoken, beautiful, or sexually confident as dangerous, while encouraging men to fear temptation and remain obedient to Christian ideals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToday, many writers and artists are reimagining monsters like the siren. Modern retellings often question these old ideas and tell the story from the siren's point of view. Those are the stories I love most. I made this pendant for everyone who refuses to be silent or make themselves smaller just to make others comfortable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/strong\u003elapis lazuli, citrine, aquamarine, calcedony \u0026amp; argentium silver wire\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Buff gently with a soft cloth. Do not soak or polish with chemicals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShips\u003c\/strong\u003e in a gift box on a waxed cotton cord, ready to wear or give.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Smith and Coil Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43329287684157,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/7049\/9901\/files\/4_b89e06eb-3fdf-4735-8da2-afdbfd042712.png?v=1783471036"},{"product_id":"the-protector-silver-wire-wrapped-pendant","title":"The Protector: Silver Wire Wrapped Pendant","description":"\u003cp\u003ePart of the Illuminated Bestiary Series, this handmade pendant is inspired by medieval representations of lions. It is handmade with argentium silver wire. The stones set in this pendant are a dark orange citrine, lapis lazuli, and jade to match the color pallet of the manuscript that inspired it. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Griffin:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eGriffins appear in Greek and Roman stories as powerful creatures with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. They were often described as guardians of gold and other treasures. As these stories spread throughout Europe, the griffin became one of the most recognizable creatures in medieval illuminated bestiaries. These manuscripts describe it as a fierce winged beast and, in some versions, an enemy of both horses and lions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eUnlike the siren, which medieval writers used as a warning against temptation, the griffin was admired. Because it combined the lion and the eagle, two animals rich with Christian symbolism, it became a symbol of Christ's human and divine nature as it inhabited both earth and sky. In bestiaries, the griffin reminded readers that true strength should be paired with wisdom and used in service of what is good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eCenturies later, the griffin remains a symbol of courage, vigilance, and guardianship. This pendant is made for those of us who are determined to use their strength and wisdom to defend what is good in the world. It is made in argentium silver wire with a coin pearl center stone and turquoise, garnet, and lapis lazuli accents. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaterials: Coin pearl, turquoise, garnet, lapis lazuli \u0026amp; argentium silver wire\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCare: Buff gently with a soft cloth. Do not soak or polish with chemicals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShips in a gift box on a waxed cotton cord, ready to wear or give.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Smith and Coil Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43334764199997,"sku":null,"price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/7049\/9901\/files\/1_bd44113d-734d-49d7-af5d-83984d98e9be.png?v=1783702447"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/7049\/9901\/collections\/Illuminated_Bestiary_Series_1.png?v=1783707041","url":"https:\/\/smithandcoiljewelry.com\/collections\/illuminated-bestiary-series.oembed","provider":"Smith and Coil Jewelry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}