Beyond Treasure by Narkis

Roses and Romance

2011-04-02T22:28:00.000-07:00

Why Roses ?

Ever since I can remember I was partial to Roses. As I grew, I noticed that any kind of art work, regardless of the medium, if it included roses -I was drawn to it. The nobility and the romanticism inherent to the rose makes my heart melt whenever I see a rose themed product.

From the time Cleopatra filled a room two-feet deep with rose petals for the visit of her beloved Marc Anthony to modern lovers offering a single rose to their love, the rose has been a symbol of romance and love.

Did you know that the rose was sacred to Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Robert Burns, the Scottish Poet, expressed his love as being like a red, red rose.

History of Hand of G-d

2011-04-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

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Why Hand of G-d ?

'Hand of G-d' products are extremely popular where I come, the Mediterranean basin due to the belief that it helps ward off evil things and people. The most common ones being the ‘blue eye’, ‘the Hamsa’ and the ‘shield of David’.

What is the story behind ‘the Hamsa’?

I mad some research and here what I found...

The Hamsa (Arabic: خمسة, Khamsa, literally "five", Hebrew: הסמח, Khamsa‎) is a symbol used in amulets, charms, jewelry, door entrances, cars, and other places. An alternative Islamic name for this charm is the Hand of Fatima or Eye of Fatima, in reference to Fatima Zahra, the daughter of Muhammed. An alternative Jewish name for it is the Hand of Miriam, in reference to Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron as well as the Hamesh Hand. It serves as an ancient talismanic way of averting and getting protection from the evil eye, or more generally of providing a "protecting hand" or "Hand of God". It appears, often in stylised form, as a hand with three fingers raised, and sometimes with two thumbs arranged symmetrically.

Some sources link the significance of the five fingers to the five books of the Torah for Jews, the Five Pillars of Islam for Sunnis, or the five People of the Cloak for Shi'ites. This significance may have been attributed after the fact, as considerable archaeological evidence suggests that the hamsa hand predates both religions.

In recent years some activists for Middle East peace have chosen to wear the hamsa as a symbol of the similarities of origins and tradition between the Islamic and Jewish faiths. The fingers point up or down usually.

Islamic usage: The symbol holds some significance for many Muslims, particularly in the Maghreb, including Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia where it can be readily found in Arab markets. The Hamsa is a talisman to protect against the evil eye. In Egypt it is very widespread, and often painted on the fronts of homes, and in the Middle East, and in India and Pakistan. Nevertheless, it should be noted that many Muslims do not recognize this protection. They believe that only God (Allah) protects them and it is with God that any person must ask for protection, and hence the hamsa is seen as shirk, or idolatry. The Hamsa is widely believed to predate Islam. The symbol is assumed to be previously used in Punic religion, where it was associated with Tanit. Hamsa plaques, usually made of turquoise colored pottery, are readily found in modern Egypt.

Jewish usage: Hamsas are popular as charms and decorations in Israel and are not considered to have any Islamic connection other than the Arabic name. Among Jews, fish are considered to be immune to the evil eye, so their images are often found on Hamsas. Hamsas are often made in the form of amulets, wall plaques, keychains, or motifs on other objects, and often feature doves. They are also frequently inscribed with Hebrew prayers depending on their use, such as the Sh'ma, the Birkat HaBayit (Blessing for the Home), or the Tefilat HaDerech (Traveler's Prayer).

History of Shield of David

2011-04-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

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Why Star of David ?

'Magen David' products are extremely popular in the Mediterranean due to the belief that it helps ward off evil things and people. The most common ones being the ‘blue eye’, ‘the Hamsa’ and the ‘shield of David’.

What is the story behind the ‘Shield of David’?

Here what I found...

The Magen David (Shield of David), the six-pointed star made of two triangles, appeared according to Jewish tradition on the shield of King David. According to the same tradition the same symbols appeared also on King Solomon's ring and therefore it is also called the Seal of Solomon. This symbol was considered to have magical powers and as a defense from the evil spirits. Such symbol without any connection to Judaism was found in India. The symbol was also considered as magical by the Moslems (as Solomon Seal) and appeared as the symbol of Nigeria. It was also used by the Ethiopian monarchs who, according to their tradition, were the descendants of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheva, and was also known there as Solomon Seal.

The Magen David was used by Jews for decoration and appeared as an official Jewish symbol for the first time in 1354 when the Jewish community in Prague received the right to have a flag of its own and chose the Magen David as the symbol on the flag. In the 15th Century the Magen David was used as a trademark for Jewish printers in Prague, Amsterdam and Italy, and in 1655 it was used on Vienna Jewish community seal and soon afterwards also by the Jewish community in Amsterdam. In the 19th century the Magen David was used almost by all Jews as their symbol and it was used for synagogue decoration, seals and letters.

When the first Zionist groups (Bilu, Hovevei Zion etc.) started their activities in 1881, they adopted the Magen David for their symbols. The Magen David also appeared at the first edition of Herzl's newspaper Die Welt in 1896.

Even though the Magen David is known as the Jewish symbol, the Jews had another symbol which is the Menorah which is also the emblem of the State of Israel and its origin is already in the Bible. The emblem is based on the engraving of the Menorah of the Temple in Jerusalem as it appears [engraved] on Titus Gate in Rome. The destiny of the original Menorah is unknown.

The Magen David is neither an ancient Jewish symbol nor a religious one like the cross. It originated in Bohemia around 500 years ago.

There is absolutely no archaeological evidence of David's existence. I am not suggesting that he did not exist, just that there is as yet nothing extra-biblical. Therefore it would be impossible to pin the Magen David on him.

From most accounts, the Magen David was originally chosen (on the flag of the Jewish community of Prague, in the middle ages) for decorative purposes — in other words, as a star, with no other meaning, in an age when heraldic stars had six points (easier to make). Explanations about 'shields' and 'seals' came much later.

Actually, the earliest known use of the six-pointed star by Jews was in the decoration of Classical (Greek/Roman) Era synagogues. The six-pointed stars are used alongside five-pointed stars and, of all things, swastikas. All are clearly meant only for ornamentation (just perhaps with a shared mystical background), with no further purpose. The six-pointed star doesn't arise again in Jewish iconography - again as a secular symbol - for another thousand years, on a flag. Use in other areas proliferated after that.

For those interested in the history of the Magen David, there is a book by W. Gunther Plaut, "The Magen David: How the six-pointed star became an emblem for the Jewish people", published by B'nai B'rith Books (1991).

SAFARI INSPIRED...

2011-03-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

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Artist Gustavo Novoa relishes in a parallel universe, where predators and their prey gaze serenely at one another and there is no strife or stress. To Novoa, they are the antithesis of the world of his childhood.

“I didn’t have many friends to play with or sports to participate in,” Novoa says, adding that as a child growing up in a family of lawyers in Santiago, Chile, he was often lonely and frightened. “My parents turned our home into a battleground where they would constantly level their differences, so I had to find refuge in my own parallel universe.”

The Academy of Fine Arts and frequent trips to the zoos in Santiago and New York’s Central Park helped Novoa’s style coalesce into a blend of surrealism and naïve art. Beginning June 15, the Wally Findlay Galleries will hold a retrospective of his work, benefitting Panthera, an organization involved in saving wild cats and their habitats.

“When people ask me to describe my paintings, I say that if [Henri] Rousseau and [René] Magritte had had a child, it would have been me,” says Novoa, who was born in 1941.

While he loved animals, it took some time for them to become part of his visual vocabulary. He moved to Paris in 1960, where he sold his paintings on the streets of Montmartre under the name Jean Marie Gallais — he felt the French would never buy the work of a Chilean artist.

Then, in 1961, Novoa had his first one-man show, sponsored by the Chilean ambassador at the Maison L’Amerique Latine. Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain sponsored his second show in Lausanne the following year. After that, he started showing his work more regularly in galleries and the Salon de la Jeune Peinture.

In 1965 he moved to New York, where he received several lucrative commissions from Marlboro Books and Macy’s.

“It was commercial,” he admits, but it paid the rent and allowed the artist to open a gallery on East 61st Street in Manhattan.

In time, though, Novoa shed his commercial work and began painting jungle animals exhibiting very unjunglelike behavior. His works have been collected by everyone from Valentino to Prince Charles, Sylvester Stallone to Carolina Herrera and Baron Hans Heinrich von Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Novoa continues to take the animals on new journeys. He borrows the theme of Rousseau’s “Sleeping Gypsy” for his 1995 painting “Dream Within a Dream,” which shows a lion gently nudging a sleeping woman under the moonlight. In his version, a lion and panther on the http://www.wwd.com/eyescoop/animal-instincts-3105667ANIMAL INSPIRED of a river appear to be superimposed over the Rousseau version.

In the 1981-1984 series, “The Grand Tour,” jungle creatures visit capitals and landmarks around the world. “That marked their emancipation from their habitat. They no longer needed to pose by a tree,” says Novoa.

Novoa’s social heyday was when the disco ball at Studio 54 was spinning strong. As a result of the excesses of the Eighties, Novoa sought refuge in Santa Fe, where he painted desert scenes.

The artist was coaxed back to the jungle by some friends, who invited him to Canaima National Park in Caracas. The trip whet his appetite for painting animals again.

“I realized my cats represented me best,” he says. “I created a menagerie that now owned me.”

LINK TO ARTICLE: ANIMAL INSPIRE

More Designs for a Princess… and a Prince

2011-03-16T00:44:00.000-07:00

While we are on the subject of shoes... ..I would like to share with you this article below that shows how the human imagination can be boundless !

In FN’s exclusive series, footwear designers share their visions for what Kate Middleton and Prince William should wear at their April wedding.

FOR KATE:

Stuart Weitzman

His design: A strappy sandal with sapphire forget-me-nots
“This style brings an airiness of spring with its delicate feminine sapphires and keeps with the tradition of Princess Diana’s engagement ring.”

Vince Camuto

His design: A T-strap sandal with oversized jewel
“I wanted to respect the family’s rich history in the classic silhouette and add the personal touch of Kate’s ring with its own story in the details.”

Michael Lewis
His designs: Three sandals with diamond-encrusted elements on the straps and heels, and gold or platinum posts
“[The heels are] pure regality and refinement, craftsmanship and femininity, modern but understated.”

Walter Steiger
His design: A white satin strappy sandal with the signature Steiger hook heel
and a precious stone
“Lady Diana was an affectionate Walter Steiger client, and my idea was to create a shoe inspired by one of her favorite styles. This is a simple and precious shoe for a modern and elegant princess.”

Ivanka Trump

Her designs: A T-strap with rosettes anddiamond-studded counter and heel; and an ankle strap d’Orsay with diamond strands
“With all the paparazzi bulbs flashing, [the shoes]would be beautiful and interesting from every angle.”

Jessie Randall

(president & creative director of Loeffler Randall)

Her design: A white satin stiletto pump with rosette
“Kate likes to wear very sophisticated hats that have a lot of height and volume, so it seems fitting that her wedding shoes would pay tribute to that with a beautiful tulle rosette at the toe.”

Alejandro Ingelmo
His design: A lace bootie inspired by Westminster Abbey
“It is a modern shoe for a modern princess.”

Deborah Lloyd (creative director of Kate Spade)
Her design: An ivory silk slingback pump with gold, orange and pinkconfetti print and silk satin bow
“This design combines modern femininity with more than a dash of character.”

Photo By: Courtesy
by REGINA SMITH POPP and Lauren DiLello
From FOOTWEAR NEWS ISSUE 03/14/2011

מאה ואחד כלבים וגנבים ה"דלמתי"י

2011-03-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

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Love vintage shoes & clothing?

You are I the correct place !!!

מאז ומתמיד יש לי חולשה לנעליים, נעליים אמרתי? כמובן שיש לי עוד מספר חולשות שאחלוק אתכן בהמשך. אך נעליים כן הן החולשה הכי גדולה שלי, ושל מי לא? אולי בשל המידה הקטנה שניחנתי בה ושמזכירה לי את נעלי סינדרלה, ושוב מהאגדות...

ובכן כן נעלייים ! בכל פעם שחלפתי על פני חלונות הראווה הבטתי וחיפשתי בשקיקה את הנעל שתדבר אלי ותגיד "אני זו אני, אותי את מחפשת, זוכרת? נו" האיצה בי "הנעל מהסיפור של הסנדלר והגמדים" ונכון חיפשתי את הנעליים מהאגדות את אלה עם האבזם או הפרח עם העקב המיוחד, את אלה שלא רואים בכל יום….

ANIMAL INSTINCT, TAKE AWALK ON THE WILD SIDE IN TEMPTING ANIMAL PRINT …

וכאן אציג לפניכן מפעם לפעם את הבחירות המיוחדות שלי

הזוג הראשון הוא של בית האופנה גאס בהשראת הדפס של הכלב הכי יפה בעיני, חבורות חבורות

...שחורות על רקע לבן הכלב מהסרט 101 כלבים וגנבים
הדאלמתי

נרקיס

Welcome To My Blog!

2011-03-03T02:59:00.000-08:00

As I Promised ...Here I Am
Paris fashion buzzing over John Galliano's replacement at Dior

אחרי סופ"ש סוער של הערות אנטישמיות גליאנו מפרסם התנצלות רשמית. "תמיד נלחמתי בדעות קדומות שהייתי קורבן להן בעצמי". השחקנית היהודייה, נטלי פורטמן, שהיא גם הפרזנטורית של קו הבישום של דיור, תוקפת בחריפות את גליאנו. "אני נגעלת" ו

שבוע האופנה בפריז נפתח ואת כולם מעניין דבר אחד - לדבר על גליאנו על בעיית הסמים והשתייה שלו ועל המיליארדים שהוא שווה

ואני דווקא רוצה לספר שכאן אצלי בבית במרחק דקות ספורות מן התפוח הגדול מרכז העסקים העולמי, כל מה שמעניין אותי זה הפריטים היפים והמרגשים שאני רוצה לצלם, כל פריט מעורר אצלי סנטימנטים מיוחדים. הנעליים של "ניין וואסט" ממש קורצות לי, הן רוצות להיות ראשונות בתור אך נעלי הדלמתי של "גאס" הובילו בהעדפה, החצאית של הילפיגר או השמלה של ראלף לורן.... ממממ.... הבחירה קשה, ועד שאסיים לצלם את כל הפריטים ולהעלות אותם לחנות הוירטואלית שלי, אני מביאה לכן טעימה קטנה בדמות טליון כסף בצורת מגן דוד מעוטר באבני תורקיז למזל טוב ...כך נוכיח לגליאנו שהעם היהודי מוגן לנצח, ושמבחינתי אפשר לחיות גם ללא העיצובים שלו !!!ו

Narkis

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