Grisaille Enamel Faerie

Description

Faerie folklore is common throughout Europe.

Faeries are part of the Indo European heritage of the Celtic cultures. One etymology relates the word to the Persian peri. In Persian mythology, peris are descended from fallen angels who have been denied paradise until they have done penance. In earlier sources they are described as agents of evil; later, they are benevolent. They are exquisite, winged, fairy-like creatures ranking between angels and evil spirits who sometimes visit the realm of mortals.

In other etymologies the word is related to the Latin Fata referring to the goddess of fate.

Irish faeries were not the sweet and pretty flower faeries of popular lore. They are remnants of a pantheon of gods worshiped in the distant past. Geographical features referred to as fairy mounds are most often Iron Age or even Neolithic sacred sites, testifying to the persistence of folk beliefs. Up until the last generation people carefully avoided what they considered to be faerie territory for fear of reprisals.

She is done in a painted enamel technique. Glass enamel is ground up as fine as flour and mixed with oil so that it can be painted. Each layer of paint must be separately fired. This piece was fired 11 times. There is a slight green iridescence on her wing. It was then set in a fine silver bezel and string with onyx and pearl beads.

This technique is called 'grisaille' which means 'gray' as it is always a monochrome technique, though sometimes it is done on other dark colours than black.

This piece is in stock and can ship out to you in 3-5 days!

Added on Dec 13, 2009