Although there is no concrete evidence as to how the nickname "Calamity Jane" came about, Martha Jane Cannary (the heroine of the plains) set off on the open road at the age when most young women were getting married and engraved her name in the history books.  Jane, an independent woman worked as a bull whacker but was most known for her rugged adventures, excessive drinking & her association with wild Bill Hickock.

Despite her own personal peccadilloes,  Calamity Jane was a gallant workhorse.  When the small pox epidemic hit the Black Hills and Deadwood, Calamity worked tirelessly nursing the sick without concern for her own well-being.  Truly a woman ahead of her time, Calamity with her masculine appearance and noted skill on the range, was no plain jane! 

For millenia, ancient civilizations gazing up at the heavens have marveled at the radiant stars and have been fascinated by the phases and powers of the mysterious moon.  Stars shining bright against a dark night sky are symbols of endless hope and indomitable spirit.  The moon, the feminine partner of the male sun, has long been a symbol of death and rebirth as it waxes and wanes. The moon is a keeper of time, controlling the pull of tides and cycles of life. It is also a symbol of fertility and has been associated with many archetypal goddesses. In the late 1800s, archaeological finds in the middle east inspired the popular trend of Victorian crescent jewelry making it common for a groom to give his new bride the gift of a crescent brooch on their honeymoon.

The term "curiosity cabinet", in fact, describes an entire chamber overflowing with dynamic collections of the most rare, exotic and strange. Amassed by those with great wealth, dating back to the 1500s, these "Wunderkammer" or "wonder rooms" housed diverse artifacts of fact and fiction.

These immense archives covered all categories from religion, philosophy, science and natural history. Filled with hundreds of specimens, often collected during exploratory expeditions to far away lands or trading voyages, these cabinets were a basis for the scientific advancement and were the precursors to museums.  Step back in time, turn the key and peer inside our cabinet of curiosities.

During the Victorian era romantic love was viewed as the primary requirement for marriage and courtship became an art form among the upper classes.  Known for their formality and closed lips, Victorians poured their emotions into their jewelry. They used a diverse language of symbols (drawn from history and religion) to send secret messages of love, flirtation, friendship and sadness.

Gemstones conveyed particular feelings - diamonds represented constancy, pearls symbolized tears, ruby meant passion and turquoise stood for protection & prosperity.  Birds, flowers, and ladies' hands were common motifs of the day. The hand symbolized good luck and even the object held in its clutches depicted specific sentiments.  For instance, a hand holding forget-me-nots sent a wish that love never die, holding a wreath & laurel meant love victorious, while a fan symbolized flirtation.

Dating back to the 1500's, poesy rings were given as sweet tokens of friendship, as lovers' gifts, and often used as wedding rings. Their short sentimental rhymes whisper secret professions of true love, burning lust, undying loyalty, and lasting joy. Tearing a page from the book of love we use the sentiments of centuries old "poesies" to indelibly mark each piece with messages of love and friendship.

The word souvenir comes from the French language and translates to:  a memory, recollection, a keepsake. When used as a verb it means 'to remember'. For us, the word souvenir conjures up centuries-old traditions incorporating symbolism, intricate detail and an aura of love.

Infected by the romance and sentimentality of the Victorian age, we have created little souvenirs or remembrances of times gone by. Using the past as our guide and the knowledge that jewelry is, was and will always be worn to remember a loved one, mourn a loss, send a message, display status, mark a commitment, or simply as personal adornment, these tiny tokens of love, loyalty & luck were born.