General, Jewelry Projects
The Miraculous Story of the Navettes
Apr
The Miracle
To understand the inspiration for this latest jewelry project, we have to take you to a small coastal town, in the south of France. The year is 40 A.D. (We are not talking 1940, or 1740, or even 1040, but 40 A.D., just 40 years after the meridian of time; almost 2000 years ago.)
It was at this time and place, that a small group of double prow boats (boats that come to a point at each end) arrived after a journey that spanned the Mediterranean. The boats moved without oarsmen, or even oars, but were propelled by a powerful, spiritual force. These little boats were called by the French, “navettes”.
The passengers of these tiny boats had left the holy land, shortly after the crucifixion of Christ, and were brought to this French beach just a little southwest of Marseilles. Mary Magdalene, her sister Martha, and brother Lazarus (yes, that “Lazarus”), led this little band, along with Joseph of Arimathea, and a number of other notable Biblical characters.
Together they changed the religious, social, and economic foundations of France, and left a profound mark on the future of the entire continent. Their arrival at that tiny fishing village is celebrated today with the annual Festival of Lights, or Chandeleur.
As part of the celebrations, people make and consume bread and pastries in the shape of the little boats that brought their saintly passengers to France, known as Navettes.
It’s a Boat; It’s a Bread; It’s Jewelry
Back to the present day, a few years ago, Debby went shopping for something new and exciting to put into one of her jewelry designs. That was when she found these very special, navette connectors. The only problem, they were being discontinued, and there was only limited stock. She bought every one our vendor had left, about a thousand. They arrived, she briefly admired them, then put them into a container, in a drawer, on a shelf where they sat for years.
It was while we were cleaning and reorganizing the studio a while back that the Navettes re-appeared (without oarsmen, or even oars). It was a revelation. We brought them out to the work area, and the design just seemed to make itself.
Now we have it to share with all of you.
The main feature of each piece is the unique, marquise-shaped metal spacer beads and the Navette pendant, the “star” of our collection, is made from a circle of these navette beads. One prow of each bead is joined in the center of the star. The other ends are separated by a couple of sparkly crystals and your choice of gemstone beads. Finished, it looks exactly like an arrangement of navette pastries on a round plate.
The bracelet reminds us of a row of boats safely moored to a long, thin dock running out to sea from some small seaside village. A double row of gemstone beads keeps the navettes in tight formation.
And of course there are earrings.
Make and Wear the Legend
The navette jewelry kits are currently available in the HomeStrung store. The links are shown below. Each piece is available with one of four gemstones of your choosing: snowflake obsidian, rhodonite, lapis lazuli, or howlite.
Supplies are limited, but for a short time we are are offering a free matching navette earring kit if you purchase both a pendant/necklace and bracelet as a set. Order the two pieces and we will include the earrings when we send the kits to you.
I just received the kits and all are very beautiful and I also wish to say thank you for the gift that was included. I am looking forward to getting a chance to play with the kits. I’m moving and this will be my down time relaxation. Excellent quality of gemstone beads and components.