VINTAGE AND CHIMERA JEWELLERY

1. Chimera: Exclusively at 54 Traditions onlyThe word ‘Chimera’ refers to a mythical beast with the head of a lion, body of a goat and tail of a dragon; in other words something made of two or more distinct parts from different sources and incorporating the virtues of each. This uniquely designed range of jewelry combines century- old tribal silver with beads originating from as far back as the 5th century B.C.

The essence of Chimera jewelry is linking the recent past and the distant past, to create one- of- a- kind treasures for the present. This range of jewelry aims at respecting the antiquity of the individual components of a piece while creating a new aesthetic.

2. Vintage JewelryFor tribal women, the essence of their culture lies in their textiles and in their jewelry. Silver jewelry has a special significance for many of the tribes in Viet Nam. Specific pieces may indicate tribal identity, gender, age, marital status and even personality traits.

Their jewelry takes many forms – rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, cosmetic sets, hairpins, hair combs, etc. As a rule, each group has its own design for each object. Jewelry was traditionally handed down from mother to daughter, so that some pieces have survived many decades of use.

Tribal women generally have at least two kinds of jewelry: everyday objects and special (or ritual) objects, often silver. Jewelry has become a form of savings, which can be sold when money is needed. Women who have sold their original silver would use the “everyday” pieces in the traditional form to affirm their identity

Many women believe that bronze and silver objects can fend off the evil spirits. They wear them to keep themselves and their children safe when they venture far from their villages or go to work in “risky” jungles.