Shakespeare's Gems

Stratford-upon-Avon Art Society’s exhibition is a “must see” if you happen to be in Stratford during the last two weeks of August. Every year there is an outstanding array of work, both 2D and 3D, by local artists. Personally, I love the idea of having original and unique works of art created by people in the local area. And this year there’s a special collection of Paula Wilkinson Jewellery to see too!

I have lived and worked in/close to Stratford for most of my adult life and I love it! It’s a place with a very rich cultural heritage, not least because of its most famous poet and playwright, the one and only Mr William Shakespeare. My last job was in fact an administrative role working for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the charitable organisation charged with the task of preserving Shakespeare’s Birthplace for the nation, as well as promoting and educating people around the world about his life and works. When I started working there I had very minimalist prior knowledge of Shakespeare’s Works or Tudor times, but it was such a fascinating place to work, I ended up staying with the Trust for 18½ years, working with the SBT Collections team and the Trust’s library and archive collections, including the RSC’s (Royal Shakespeare Company) archive and I acquired a wealth of knowledge about local history and a massive appreciation of Shakespeare’s plays. So now you know that choosing a Shakespeare-inspired theme for my first Stratford-upon-Avon Art Society exhibits was not as totally random as it may have initially appeared.

I had the idea to use gem stones that are mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays, and chose 6 gemstone quotes to inspire my designs, each from a different play. I had a lot of fun looking at symbolism within each play, and planning how to depict some of these elements. The resulting designs are statement pieces that are much more illustrative than my usual jewellery designs, and each one carries meaning that I hope will resonate with fans of Shakespeare and the theatre. Starting with flat silver sheets and silver wire, I set about the fiddly process of making tiny toadstools, ivy leaves, comedy and tragedy masks and cutting tiny tufts of grass, stars, poppy seedheads and olive branches. 

Here are my finished pendants:

Shakespeare’s Gems: Ruby (1)

 “Those be rubies, fairy favors” 

Act 2, Scene 1, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare 

This pendant depicts the setting for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the forest floor with a toadstool fairy ring where fairies make magic and mischief in the glow of the midsummer full moon and the stars in the sky.

Recycled sterling silver, genuine natural ruby, hammered copper detail. Hung on an 18” recycled sterling silver chain.

Shakespeare’s Gems: Ruby (2 )

 “But kiss; one kiss! Rubies unparagon'd, How dearly they do't!” 

Act 2, Scene 2, Cymbeline by William Shakespeare

Cymbeline is a play about love and forgiveness, and I have set this ruby surrounded by love hearts. The sun represents Britain and the silhouette of an eagle represents Rome. 

Recycled sterling silver, genuine natural ruby, brass detail. Hung on an 18” recycled sterling silver chain.

Shakespeare’s Gems: Pearl (1) 

“This pearl she gave me, I do feel't and see't. 
And though ’tis wonder that enwraps me thus”

Act 4, Scene 3, Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare 

A night time setting the pendant has a Mother of Pearl moon and stars in the sky. The masks of comedy and tragedy seemed appropriate for this tragi-comedy in which characters disguise themselves, leading to confusion, a case of mistaken identity and a pearl is given as a token of love to the wrong person. 

Recycled sterling silver, genuine natural Mother Of Pearl. Hung on an 18” recycled sterling silver chain.

Shakespeare’s Gems: Pearl (2) 

“She is a pearl Whose price hath launch'd above a thousand ships.”

Act 2, Scene 2, Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare 

Troilus and Cressida is a play set in the Trojan War, and this Greek-inspired pendant hangs from a bail with spiral motif and the pink Mother of Pearl is surrounded by olive branches, to symbolise the desired peace. 

Recycled sterling silver, genuine natural pink Mother of Pearl, copper detail. 18” recycled sterling silver chain.

Shakespeare’s Gems: Turquoise 

“It was my turquoise; I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor: 
I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys” 

Act 3, Scene 1, The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

This pendant represents Shylock’s turquoise ring, which was of great sentimental value to him as it was given to him by his beloved deceased wife. He is upset to learn that his daughter has sold the ring and bought a monkey. The stone is surrounded by ivy leaves symbolising the everlasting bonds of love and loyalty.

Recycled sterling silver, genuine natural turquoise. Hung on an 18” recycled sterling silver chain.

Shakespeare’s Gems: Chrysolite (Peridot)

“If heaven would make me such another world,
Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,
I’d not have sold her for it.”

Act 5, Scene 2, Othello by William Shakespeare 

Othello compares his wife to a perfect Chrysolite (Peridot), a metaphor for all the things he valued, her beauty, charity, wisdom and dignity. The ring represents their marriage, the poppy seedheads represent the seeds of doubt planted by Iago, inducing Othello’s sleepless turmoil, that could not find relief from such a powerful opiate.

Recycled sterling silver, genuine natural peridot. Hung on an 18” recycled sterling silver chain.

All six pendants will be available to view for the duration of the exhibition, and are for sale.

I hope you can make it to see the exhibition in person. It is open daily from 14 – 25 August at King Edward VI School (KES) on Chapel Street in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon.