Content RSS
Inspired by my love for ethnobotany, the study of the human relationship with plants, the Somnia ear weights are a tribute to the history of Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy. This controversial plant has seen ancient ritual and medicinal use, been used as the economic basis for war and the addiction and enslavement of an entire country, and most recently has provided medical science with the single known natural source for lifesaving opiate medications. Follow the story of this beautiful flower from ancient use to the inspiration for our new Somnia ear weights.
A local customer happily wore a pair of jade "Maya Flower" plugs we carved him until he began stretching again. Upon reaching a new goal size, we cut apart his old jade flower plugs and reused the faces to create a new pair with prong set faceted moonstone inlays.
For some time now I have been interested in Prehispanic culture and jewelry, and so called "primitive" lapidary. After completing the first of what has become many personal interpretations and historical reproductions of Mayan stone plugs from traditional jadeite, I was interested in tackling the idea of ear flares that involved multiple pieces.
For many years I have admired the sculptural gold and stone labrets of Prehispanic cultures. A few years ago I started toying with the idea of creating a sculptural eagle head piece. I recently started attending the annual Association of Professional Piercers conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Every year there is an innovator's showcase of new jewelry objects submitted by the various vendors. I decided that I would submit the eagle labret for inclusion, and it was time to get busy.
The Basilica is one of our favorites in our lineup of made-to-order body jewelry, both because we find it strikingly beautiful and also because it is so multidisciplinary in construction. Utilizing woodworking, metalsmithing and lapidary skills, multiple Onetribe employees pull together to create each unique set of Basilica plugs one at a time as they are ordered by our customers.
