Dragonfly jewelry findings have put in me in a summery mood. Watching dragonflies hover and drift over still water is a quintessential summer pastime of mine and a dragonfly pendant or charm is a nice way to remind myself to appreciate long days while they last and remember them as fall approaches.
Dragonfly Necklace
Dragonflies are busy little creatures that pop up in myths and legends from around the world. In some parts of Europe they were little boogeymen waiting to punish ill-behaving children. They appear in many Native American stories as clever tricksters carrying gifts, as powerful healers dwelling around lakes and mountains, or as the spirits of a lost loved one. In some parts of the US they are even known as Snake-doctors following around snakes and fixing them up when they got hurt.
Today dragonflies mainly inhabit an aesthetic space alongside butterflies and nymphs, but in feudal Japan they were considered masculine symbols of strength and courage since dragonflies, being unable to fly backwards, never back down from a fight. As a result dragonfly ornamental findings can be seen decorating armor and weapons from that period and what we now know as Japan was once “Akitsushima” or “The Dragonfly Islands.” I don’t think I’ll be creating any dragonfly jewelry for the men in my family any time soon, but then again who knows?
After all, Nina Designs’ dragonflies are globally inspired as well. From handcrafted filigree dragonflies that speaks of the skill of Indonesian craftspeople to whimsical sprites gathering flowers it’s not hard to create a story of your own. For this last lazy bit of sunshine, Nina’s Dragonfly Necklace of light silk cords and delicate silver pendants lets me gaze at dragonflies a little longer.
