Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33 inch long cord

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EARTH MOTHER - The Goddess Collection - ISIS

Isis represents the richness of the Earth, whose bounty arose through her union with her beloved Osiris, manifested in the Waters of the Nile. Isis is the mother of Horus, the Sun God. Isis is also joined to the Morning Star, Venus. She is said to have been the first to practice embalming, which the Ancient Egyptians believed held the key to immortality. For this supreme gift, she is remembered as the Peerless Magician who gave humanity the chance to attain eternal life. 

Pendants come on legend cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine lead-free pewter. Packaged on recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EARTH MOTHER - The Goddess Collection - HECATE

Hecate is the Greek goddess of magic and witchcraft. She is shown most often holding two torches or a key and in later periods, in her Triple Goddess form. She was variously associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, dogs, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy and sorcery. In ancient times shrines to Hecate were placed at doorways to both homes and cities with the belief that they would protect from the restless dead and other spirits. In her form as the Triple Goddess she is considered the goddess of fertility and plenty; goddess of the moon; and goddess of the night and the underworld. Many Wiccans identify her with the three aspects of the Triple Goddess: the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone as well, because of her three faces. She symbolizes the mystical properties of roads and portals, and of death, healing, and resurrection.

Pendants come on legend cards with a 33" long black cord.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EARTH MOTHER -The Goddess Collection - MOON GODDESS

In almost every culture the moon is a woman.  The monthly cycles of the moon seem to show the monthly cycles of women as though in a sacred magic mirror.  Each month the Goddess paints the face of the moon with the same picture; over and over.  And the theme of that picture is the power of women and the sacredness of the energy that each woman carries in her womb.  The crescent moon, set against the stars, echoes each woman's unique sense of herself, even as she lives as only one person among many.  In many cultures, arms held over one's head is a posture of prayer.  The hands seem to reach toward the higher, toward the stars, the moon and planets, and toward the infinity of space.  It expresses a longing toward something that lies without; toward the larger universe in which we live.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EARTH MOTHER -The Goddess Collection - SPIRAL GODDESS

The spiral is a symbol of the upward development of the human spirit. The Woman with her hands above her head stands for the act of drawing down energy form the cosmos above, especially the moon and the stars. Together, these two powerful symbols evoke the feeling of a prayer to the eternal feminine powers that reside in the heavens overhead; a prayer that one’s spiritual potential be realized, and that one should be an instrument of nurturing and healing, of help to the whole of one’s people.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EARTH MOTHER -The Goddess Collection - SPIRAL GODDESS

The spiral is a symbol of the upward development of the human spirit. The Woman with her hands above her head stands for the act of drawing down energy form the cosmos above, especially the moon and the stars. Together, these two powerful symbols evoke the feeling of a prayer to the eternal feminine powers that reside in the heavens overhead; a prayer that one’s spiritual potential be realized, and that one should be an instrument of nurturing and healing, of help to the whole of one’s people.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE - The Celtic Collection - TREE OF LIFE

The Tree of Life is one of the oldest spiritual signs in the world. From all over the world, we find tales of a special, magical tree. It stands in the center of the world. It is the first source of life. Its fruit bestows immortality. It grows in Paradise, the first and most beautiful garden of the Earth. Its roots reach into the underworld and its top pierces the heavens. It is old since time out of mind.

Pendants come on legend cards with a 33-inch long cord.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection - CHALICE WELL

Chalice Well is a holy well situated at the foot of Glastonbury Tor in the county of Somerset, England. It has been in constant use for at least 2000 years and its waters have long been believed to possess healing powers. Chalice Well is often portrayed as a symbol of the female aspect of the deity, with the male symbolized by Glastonbury Tor. Wells often feature in Welsh and Irish mythology as gateways to the spirit world. The overlapping of the inner and outer worlds is represented by the well cover with the two interlocking circles constituting the symbol known as the Vesica Piscis. 

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33 inch long black cord. Fine Lead Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection -BRIGID’S CROSS

Brigid's cross, Brighid's cross, or Brigit's cross, or (in Gaelic) Crosóg Brighde is associated with Brigid of Kildare (Irish: Naomh Bhríde) (451 – 525 AD), one of the patron saints of Ireland along with St. Patrick and St. Columba. Her feast day is on February 1, the traditional first day of spring in Ireland. Brigid is also the name of a Celtic fire-goddess associated with the feast of Imbolc and the practice of making a Brigid’s cross may have derived from the pagan sun wheel. It is usually made from rushes and contains a woven square in the center with four radials tied at the ends. According to tradition a new cross is made each Saint Brigid's Day, and the old one is burned to protect the house from fire.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE - The Celtic Collection - THE MORRIGAN

The Celtic War Goddess Morrigan is said to rule over life, death and sexuality. She is said to have flown over battlefields in the form of a raven to choose who would live and who would die. She used her magical powers of shape-shifting rather than weapons to preside over battles and was also known as the "Washer at the Ford" as she washed the clothes of those soon to die in battle. Her symbol, the raven is a bird of prophecy, magical knowledge and darkness. In that darkness - healing, wisdom and the unfolding of mysteries happens for those who still their minds enough to allow it to enter and have the sincerity to make use of these priceless gifts of light and insight.

Pendants come on legend cards with a 33-inch long cord.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE - The Celtic Collection - EXCALIBUR

This medieval style sword, ornamented with runes, is reminiscent of the legendary sword, given by The Lady of the Lake, to Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot. Forged in the bowels of the earth by beings so ancient no living person even  knows the name of their race,   Excalibur was a sword which conferred invincibility to it’s owner.

Pendants come on legend cards with a 33-inch long black cord. Fine lead-free pewter. Packaged on recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection - CELTIC RAVEN

The Raven is a bird of prophecy and magical knowledge and has been associated with the Celtic Goddess Morrigan and other Crones. In Celtic myth the goddess Morrigan flew over battlefields in the form of a raven and chose who would live and who would die. The Morrigan is also known as the “Washer at the Ford” as she washed the clothes of those soon to die in battle. Her symbol – the Raven is a bird of the darkness. In that darkness – healing, wisdom, and the unfolding of the mysteries happens for those who still their minds enough to allow it to enter. The raven is the one who gives gifts but it is also a trickster. The Raven’s gifts are for those who have the sincerity to try to make use of these priceless gifts of light and insight.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33 inch long black cord. Fine Lead Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection - CELTIC RAVEN

The Raven is a bird of prophecy and magical knowledge and has been associated with the Celtic Goddess Morrigan and other Crones. In Celtic myth the goddess Morrigan flew over battlefields in the form of a raven and chose who would live and who would die. The Morrigan is also known as the “Washer at the Ford” as she washed the clothes of those soon to die in battle. Her symbol – the Raven is a bird of the darkness. In that darkness – healing, wisdom, and the unfolding of the mysteries happens for those who still their minds enough to allow it to enter. The raven is the one who gives gifts but it is also a trickster. The Raven’s gifts are for those who have the sincerity to try to make use of these priceless gifts of light and insight.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33 inch long black cord. Fine Lead Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection - CELTIC RAVEN

The Raven is a bird of prophecy and magical knowledge and has been associated with the Celtic Goddess Morrigan and other Crones. In Celtic myth the goddess Morrigan flew over battlefields in the form of a raven and chose who would live and who would die. The Morrigan is also known as the “Washer at the Ford” as she washed the clothes of those soon to die in battle. Her symbol – the Raven is a bird of the darkness. In that darkness – healing, wisdom, and the unfolding of the mysteries happens for those who still their minds enough to allow it to enter. The raven is the one who gives gifts but it is also a trickster. The Raven’s gifts are for those who have the sincerity to try to make use of these priceless gifts of light and insight.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33 inch long black cord. Fine Lead Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection - Celtic Dragon

Legend holds that the winged Dragons of the British Isles were shy creatures; suspicious of humans, and given to solitude. They breathed fire, and could transfix a person through the power of their gaze. They were also greedy, amassing huge piles of wealth, which they never used, except as a bed.  Dragons were always knowledgeable, being long-lived, and having excellent memories. If you could get a dragon to talk to you, it was said, they could tell you of all the ancient races and their histories. 

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection - Celtic Dragon

Legend holds that the winged Dragons of the British Isles were shy creatures; suspicious of humans, and given to solitude. They breathed fire, and could transfix a person through the power of their gaze. They were also greedy, amassing huge piles of wealth, which they never used, except as a bed.  Dragons were always knowledgeable, being long-lived, and having excellent memories. If you could get a dragon to talk to you, it was said, they could tell you of all the ancient races and their histories. 

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection - Celtic Dragon

Legend holds that the winged Dragons of the British Isles were shy creatures; suspicious of humans, and given to solitude. They breathed fire, and could transfix a person through the power of their gaze. They were also greedy, amassing huge piles of wealth, which they never used, except as a bed.  Dragons were always knowledgeable, being long-lived, and having excellent memories. If you could get a dragon to talk to you, it was said, they could tell you of all the ancient races and their histories. 

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection - Celtic Dragon

Legend holds that the winged Dragons of the British Isles were shy creatures; suspicious of humans, and given to solitude. They breathed fire, and could transfix a person through the power of their gaze. They were also greedy, amassing huge piles of wealth, which they never used, except as a bed.  Dragons were always knowledgeable, being long-lived, and having excellent memories. If you could get a dragon to talk to you, it was said, they could tell you of all the ancient races and their histories. 

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection - Celtic Cross

The Cross is a symbol of the redemption of the world’s sins through the death of the Lord Jesus. The Celtic Cross is much older than that. It shows a circle on a cross. The four quarters it forms point to the four directions. To the North lies wisdom, silence, Winter and death. To the East lies rebirth, youth, Spring and growth.  To the South lies vitality, vigor, Summer and strength. To the West lies knowledge, experience, Autumn and guidance. The circle which connects them is the cycle of the eternal returns of all these things. The Celtic Cross symbolizes both the love of Christ, and the ways of the ancient religion.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE-The Celtic Collection - CELTIC WEAVE

The weave pattern, in its many styles, shapes, and patterns, was among the most popular designs created be the Celtic and Norse peoples. With a single thread twisting and weaving over and under itself, the Weave pattern symbolized the interconnectedness of all thing in our world. One of the teachings about the origins of this world handed down to the present was that the Creator wove the world into existence. Each thing made with a Celtic Weave stands for the whole of existence.

Fine Lead Free Pewter Pendant. Comes on a Legend Card with a 33" long black cord.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

EIRE - The Celtic Collection - TALISMAN OF THE SACRED THREE

The three-sided talisman, in its many forms, is one of the most ancient symbols in the western world.  It is found on the walls of the palace of Minos in Crete. It appears on ancient Irish stone carvings, as well as being etched on bones as much as 25,000 years old. It stands for the three Goddesses; the Maiden: Goddess of youth, springtime, and planting; the Mother Goddess of growth, nurturing, and summer; and the Crone, Goddess of the harvest, wisdom, and the ends of things. The Sacred Three are also Creation, Preservation, and Destruction, as well as Birth, Life, And Death.  Like all ancient symbols, The Talisman of The Sacred Three is subject to ever-deepening levels of interpretation and culminates in the understanding that all things are one.

Fine Lead Free Pewter Pendant. Comes on a Legend Card with a 33" long black cord.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pewter pendant with a crystal point on a 24 inch plated chain. Packaged on a beautiful Recycled paper card.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Thor’s Hammer

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Saint Brigid

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.

Tree of Life

Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33-inch-long black cord. Fine Lead-Free Pewter. Packaged on Recycled paper cards.
Pendants come on Legend Cards with a 33

These stunning keychains are meticulously handcrafted in Guatemala by skilled artisans using delicate glass seed beads. The intricate designs are created from memory, showcasing the mastery of the craft that these artisans have developed over the years. To make these keychains eco-friendly, they are filled with recycled plastic bags, ensuring they keep their shape while also being sustainable.

By purchasing one of these keychains, you're supporting over 200 women artisans in Guatemala and their families. It's a small purchase that makes a big difference in the lives of these skilled artisans.

• 3"H x 1"W
• Hand beaded in Guatemala 
• Sturdy finish
• Made following Fair Trade guidelines
• Weight: 0.48 oz (13.61 g)

François-Marie Arouet (1694–1778), known as Voltaire, was a writer, philosopher, poet, dramatist, historian and polemicist of the Enlightenment era. The diversity of his literary offerings is surpassed only by its abundance: nearly 20,000 letters and more than 2,000 books and some 15 million words.

Born in Paris, Voltaire was the son of a well-established lawyer who wanted his son to follow in his own footsteps. The young Arouet changed his name to Voltaire and swiftly began making a name for himself as a writer.

Not just a prolific writer and poet, Voltaire is renowned for his views and ideas on rational religion and liberty. He was a man of reason and had a hatred for superstition. He endeavoured to champion his philosophies through his writings, and he crossed borders and cultures to spread his message.

This beautiful binding originally housed Voltaire’s Zadig, or The Book of Fate, his most popular work after Candide. The book was published in 1747 and this binding was crafted in 1893 by Chamerot et Renouard in Paris. The Book of Fate tells the story of an ancient Babylonian philosopher named Zadig. It is an example of how Voltaire used a story to comment on the issues of his time.

It was thanks to this zealous and formidable contribution to the Enlightenment era that the age is also known as the Age of Voltaire.

Harmonious flowers, balanced colours and highly precise details create the eye-catching, high-impact effect of this Japanese kimono design.

Originally designed as a costume for the theatrical style known as Noh, our Kara-ori pattern leaves little doubt why Noh is derived from the words for “skill” and “talent.” With silk and gold lacquered stripes, this is one of the best examples of Japanese textile design we have found. It comes from the Edo period (1615–1868) when Noh theatre, known for the sumptuousness of its costumes, was at its height.

Noh theatre is one of the world’s oldest performing arts and has been handed down through generations of Japanese composers and performers. The plots draw from legend, history and contemporary events and are structured around song and dance. Though the thematic tone is often poetic yet monotonous, the costumes are anything but. In fact, Noh is often referred to as “mask drama” due to the importance placed on masks and costumes within the form.

The term karaori, for which this design is named, refers specifically to the exquisitely embroidered traditional woman’s kimono like the one reproduced here. Karaori are regarded as some of the most beautiful theatrical costumes in the world, thanks in part to the Japanese aristocracy’s embrace of the theatre style – as both viewers and performers.

Though Noh is a Japanese art, karaori means “Chinese weave,” as the fabric has its roots in China. And like the costume reproduced in our Peking Opera Embroidery series, this too would have been crafted for a male performer playing a female role. Both the material itself and the pattern shown would have helped tell the story of the character. In this case, the stiff brocade technique created a thick, glossed fabric that would not drape easily – this was used to create an angular effect evoking the spirit of a noblewoman. The flowering grasses depicted served to emphasize the woman’s femininity.

By the Meiji period (1868–1912) Noh had reached such heights that it was introduced overseas, influencing artists far and wide. William Butler Yeats, for example, wrote an essay on Noh in 1916 that he titled “Certain Noble Plays of Japan.” And even more contemporarily, David Byrne of the Talking Heads discovered Noh while touring Japan and, according to American music critic Josh Kun, was inspired by the highly stylized, stiff costumes to “design the oversize business suit that became a visual staple of Talking Heads live shows.”

Today there are more than 70 Noh theatres throughout Japan and it has been deigned an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. This beautiful example of karaori costuming can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago as part of the Otto C. Deering gift. It is our great pleasure to work with such a gorgeous and culturally important piece of history to craft this Paperblanks design.

Our Safavid design portrays a leather filigree pattern incorporating handtooled motifs, retaining the elegance and style of the Islamic Golden Age even in our modern context.

Associated with this era of artistic excellence, Persian Safavid-style designs represented a high point in the art of the book. These bindings often feature centralized designs of medallions, quadrants, plant and animal motifs, pentagonal flap closures and elaborately decorated “doublures” (interior covers), along with exquisite creations in cut-out leather, coloured papers and gilding. Above all, symmetry is the hallmark of this style. The original binder of this particular design used reddish-brown goatskin, real gold, lacquer and paint to achieve balance in his creation.

Dating back to the 17th century, this artwork comes from the rich handicraft tradition that Shah Abbas the Great, the Fifth Shah of the Safavid Dynasty, inspired during what has become known as the Islamic Golden Age of Art (750 through the 16th century). He recognized the commercial benefits of promoting the arts and, thus, the crafts of tilework, pottery and textiles thrived. Illuminated manuscripts also became a flourishing industry and great attention was brought to the craft of bookbinding and design.

Though the rule of the Safavids came to an end in 1736, they left a great and lasting legacy by reviving and establishing Persia as both an economic and artistic stronghold. Amid the many jewels of this ancient period and culture, decorative bookbinding shines particularly bright and we are honoured to bring it back to everyday life in our Safavid series.