Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow Mini Ring
18ct yellow gold, handmade to order in Geneva
Symbols: Lily, Iris, Rainbow, Sea, Sky, Nectar, Water Jug
In Greek mythology, Iris was the personification of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods, carrying water from the River Styx in a ewer whenever the gods had to take a solemn oath. The water would render unconscious for one year any god or goddess who lied. In this she is associated with the principled virtues of Aquarians.
Goddess of the Rainbow, she is said to have married Zephyr, the Western wind, who in turn is linked to the mythology of Flora. Iris’s characteristics were considered to be her reflective and communicative abilities; in this she is allied to the astrological sign of Gemini. The rainbow is often a sign of hope, the beauty after the storm; it is believed that witnessing a rainbow is suggestive of better times ahead, as well as a call to trust our instincts.
The Goddess collection is inspired by the character and mythology of powerful Roman and Grecian legends, and the overlap into other forms of cultural and philosophical representation. Alice was inspired by the way that symbols in fine art would have been instantly recognisable for the narratives they represented, in a way that only experts schooled in art history would likely now recognise. Symbolism is such a powerful force in contemporary jewellery, and as an artist with strong female clients and collaborators, Alice wanted to explore characteristics that would be meaningful and enduring.
After a decade of working in meenakari enamel, an engraved process, Alice collaborated on this collection with Colombian goldsmith Juan Sebastian Galan Bello to create stories in repousse 18 carat yellow gold - from working inwards to working outwards. Juan realised in gold a series of illustrations created with Charlotte Gastaut, a Parisian illustrator working with brands such as Diptique and Hermes, and on the creation of her own fairytale narratives rendered in print and on silk.