That’s the message behind The Field’s latest traveling exhibition, “The Horse”. The exhibit, developed in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History in New York, looks at the horse’s place in civilization — from the animals once used as livestock, to the domestication of breeds for use in warfare and transportation, to today’s roles as companion and competition animals. The earliest drawings of horses appear on cave walls: the very earliest people had the urge to commemorate the beauty and power of the horses they saw.

The exhibit is available for preview here. If you’re lucky enough to visit the Fields or see the exhibit as it travels the nation, you’ll see fine equine-themed painting, sculptures, and jewelry.

Vintage Horse Jewelry

We have many ways to connect our love of horses with our love of history.  Collecting paintings and sculptures is certainly one route to commemorating the role horses have played in our life over the years.  Another route is to collect vintage horse jewelry.  Our love of horses is nearly as long-lasting and established as humanity’s urge to decorate and adorn itself.

Antique and estate horse jewelry gives us a chance to connect with horse imagery from every age. Victorian horse jewelry, Edwardian horse jewelry, art nouveau horse jewelry and art deco horse jewelry stands side by side with horse jewelry from antiquity. Every culture in the world has a tradition of horse jewelry. You can build an impressive horse jewelry collection by selecting pieces from a certain time period or culture – and have the joy of wearing beautiful artwork wherever you go!

In the ad, Michele claims the horses are overworked and badly treated.  However, fact checking with the Horse and Carriage Association of NYC, the group responsible for the oversight of the industry, reveals that the horses in NYC live in what most horse lovers would consider pretty good conditions.  They have limited work days, and have a five week vacation every year where they are taken to the country.

The carriage horses of today without a doubt enjoy better treatment and living conditions of horses half a century ago, much less half a century before that.

Horse and Carriage Jewelry

Horse and carriage jewelry is actually pretty hard to find.  We’ve got this great pin to tell you about, which has a little bit of history of its own!

Bridle rosettes were a once popular way to dress up your horse’s tack. Images are protected under glass domes, and backed with a sturdy brass panel. You’d slide your bridle through a loop on the back, and your horse would wear it, like jewelry. Usually a horse would wear a matched pair.

Today, many of these rosettes are seeing new life as pins. You can see the range of pins we have available here. At just under 2″ across, they’re the perfect size, and they were built to last. They’re a little heavy, so don’t plan on pinning these to your favorite silk blouse. On a blazer, denim jacket, or even on a bag, they look fabulous! Unique and equestrian-vintage, they’re a perfect gift for your favorite horsewoman — even if that’s you!

Art Deco Horse Jewelry

This week, we’re really loving this Art Deco Equestrian Pendant Necklace. Crafted from a cuff link from the period, this pendant is full of symbols near and dear to the horse lover: the curved horseshoe — and check out those horseshoe nails — a saddle, and riding cap.  There’s a lot of detail and craftsmanship packed into this petite pendant.  Wear it in the show ring or to the office: it’s always appropriate, and sterling silver works so very well in the winter.

Art Deco delivers simple beauty.  Designers examined every aspect of their subject, in an attempt to portray it in its most essential elegance.  These pieces have a powerful emotional appeal, which makes them the perfect gift item for someone who feels things deeply and appreciates the sentiment as much as the substance.

Horses and dogs show up often in Art Deco artwork and jewelry. This fabulous Greyhound Brooch is also a vintage piece, and is an amazing example of the aesthetic of the age. (The pin closure may have been added later, which is not uncommon with older jewelry.) We think it captures perfectly the lines and attitude of the greyhound — you can almost picture her looking over her shoulder to see what made such an interesting noise.  The playful pose and energy in this piece are a sure pick me up for both the wearer and everyone who sees this great brooch!

Pegasus was more than just a horse with wings. Through the convoluted breeding program on Mount Olympus (if you think stud books are confusing, just spend a while reading Greek mythology!) Pegasus was sired by Poseidon (as his horse-god self) on Medusa, who you may remember as the freaky-looking woman with snakes on her head instead of hair. This means that Pegasus was divine twice over, truly suited to help the hero Bellerophon in his quest to kill the Chimera. While Pegasus may have been all that, Bellerophon was not, and fell off his mount while they were in the air.

Today, Pegasus is seen as a symbol of inspiration, particularly for creative endeavors. People also view the winged horse as emblematic as one’s personal search for enlightenment and connection with the divine.

Pegasus Horse Jewelry

We’ve recently added two great Pegasus pieces to the collection.  The bracelet pictured is distinctive and bold, with a chunky sterling silver chain. On one side of the ancient style charm, we see Pegasus, and on the flip side, Athena — goddess of wisdom — in her helmet.  It’s a perfect piece for the woman who not only believes in dreams, but is willing to fight for them!

Also available are a pair of sterling silver Pegasus cufflinks. Featuring the same ancient styling as the bracelet charm, these cuff links can add a distinctive, personal touch appropriate for any setting. They can be worn by men or women.

The Healing Power of Horses

According to this article from Bloomberg.com, Therapists use horses to treat depression, anxiety and attention-deficit and post-traumatic-stress disorders, among other maladies. Our equine friends are also assisting with marriage and parent counseling and corporate team-building.

As any horse lover knows, horses are incredibly intelligent. They’re very receptive to the emotions of people around them.  How many times have you walked out to the pasture when you’re feeling a little down, just to watch the horses run, to have one of them walk up to you and nuzzle? It’s a comfort we’ve had since the earliest days. The companionship of a good horse can make the worst day more bearable.

Horse therapy is very beneficial to the people involved.  It’s also good for the horses.  Many of the horses used in equine assisted therapy are rescue horses or horses that have retired from the racetrack.

Victorian Horse Jewelry

As people are rediscovering the healing power of horses, they’re also finding jewelry from yesteryear that speaks to them. Many people fall in love with the ornate detail, lush curves, and unmatched energy of Victorian Horse Jewelry and find themselves instantly smitten.   Estate jewelry collectors are often delighted by the amount of quality Victorian jewelry available — and the Victorians loved horses! If you’re not in the market for authentic vintage Victorian jewelry, you can get the look and style for a fraction of the price with modern pieces created in the Victorian style.  Appropriate for every environment, classy and stylish, Victorian horse jewelry is one of the best ‘old’ looks people fall in love with every day!

Reverse crystal jewelry is a favorite of many horse jewelry collectors.  Combining the traditional elements of fine jewelry — ornate settings, fine metal, excellent craftsmanship and design — with an artist’s finest offerings, images of horses painted on the flat back of a specially prepared domed rock crystal, each mount rendered both in miniature  and in high detail. Thin layers of mother of pearl are applied on the back of the painted image to keep it safe and to ensure that the back of the piece is (nearly) as attractive as the front. Reverse crystal horse jewelry has a lot of appeal. Here’s a segment on the PBS Road Show from 2005 about reverse crystal jewelry.

Reverse crystal jewelry first appeared during the Victorian era and was produced through the 1940′s in great numbers. Then the trend died off, although there are still a few artisans producing reverse crystal work today.  Finding good estate pieces takes patience and perserverance; fortitude will eventually be rewarded. The crystals are easily scratched, so you want to carefully consider condition when you’re buying.

This three reverse crystal bay horse head bracelet is a spectacular example of what you want to look for when you’re choosing a reverse crystal piece. There are three crystals, and each is clear and bright — not cloudy nor flawed with age. The horse heads are attractive, and the bridle nicely rendered: a sharp, smart looking aesthetic, particularly when you consider the gold hunt horns framing each crystal. Stirrups flank the crystal, but the ends of the bracelet are golden leathers; the type of detail work that absolutely makes a piece of reverse crystal horse jewelry memorable!

Of course, being Hermes means it is also going to have an amazing price tag.  Without exaggeration, you could buy yourself a horse — perhaps an entire stable full of horses and the barn itself! — for what the new line is going to cost.

No  matter! We’ll get that lottery ticket someday!  Meanwhile, there is a lot of vintage Hermes and Hermes inspired equestrian jewelry available right now. Long a favorite of many horse jewelry collectors, the elegant lines, strong styling and bold grace of these pieces make them appropriate in any setting.

At the moment, we’re particularly entranced by this amazing 18K gold snaffle bit bracelet. Imagine this dangling from your wrist: substantial enough to make an impression, airy and designed not to be heavy on the wrist. Every movement, every wave, every handshake, creates just enough sparkle and shine to make meeting you memorable. Hermes did so much with the bit motif — you can see that here in this lovely vintage bracelet and it is truly a fabulous way to communicate your love of horses.

That’s good news for lovers of diamond horse jewelry. A dazzling array of pieces, from elegant estate treasures to contemporary masterpieces, is waiting for you.

How Is Buying Diamond Horse Jewelry Different From Buying Diamond Jewelry?

The Gemological Institute of America has some great resources to help you buy diamonds. There, you will learn about the 4 C’s of a diamond: the Carat, the Color, the Clarity, and the Cut. Diamonds can vary tremendously in quality, so you want to make sure you’re educated about what you’re buying!

When selecting pieces for your horse jewelry collection, you’ll notice several things.  First, rather than focusing on one large stone, as you often see in engagement rings, many horse jewelry pieces make use of several smaller diamonds.  That’s what has been done on this exquisite 14K Gold Majestic Stallion Horse Head Pendant Diamonds are used, to great effect,to highlight the bridle — check out the sapphire bit! That type of detail speaks not only to the jeweler’s art, but a great understanding of horses.

A great understanding of what riders value also makes for great jewelry.  Look at the Rider’s Ring on the left: a vintage piece from 1907, this ring features the low profile and a pierced gallery, guaranteeing the air flow you need to avoid the dreaded sweaty hand syndrome, in and out of the saddle! Stunningly beautiful, this 18k gold ring has three .30ctw rubies (July’s birthstone, if you’re looking for a perfect gift!) and two old, round mine-cut diamonds.

Now, it’s no secret that we at Show Stable Artisans have a certain fondness for Estate and Antique Horse Jewelry. There’s something almost otherworldly and beautiful about these pieces from yesteryear, when everything wonderful was made by hand, and detail was captured by a fine eye.

And among the great jewelers, of course, we must give credit to Hermes.  Founded in 1837, Hermes is renowned for being the French jeweler (they did some bags and such too, you may have heard of them.)  The relationship between Hermes and the horse world is well established — the family, after relocating to France from Germany, worked making harness and tack. Their saddles were so magnificent that they were the choice of the Czar of Russia!

Over time, the Hermes family moved into apparel.  They became famous for their scarves, and their distinct approach, which one of the family described as “Leather, sport, and a tradition of refined elegance.”

You can see that refined elegance in this Amazing rare vintage Hermes horse bit bracelet. We’ve taken far more pictures than usual so you can really look at this piece — frankly, it’s not the type of thing most of use get to see often enough! It’s a gorgeous sterling silver Hermès snaffle bit bracelet circa 1950-60. This was the era when Hermes was seen being worn by Grace Kelly, the Princess of Monaco!  Talk about glamour!  Today, you’ll see Elle MacPherson, Madonna, Nicole Kidman and other celebrities turn to Hermes when they’re striving for that elegant, polished, ultimately sophisticated look.

We only have one of these bracelets, and if we had our way, would likely keep it for ourselves.  But the boss has informed us that our mission is actually connecting horse lovers with the ultimate in horse jewelry — and for the lucky customer who buys this bracelet, we’ll have certainly done that!

This is an exciting, dynamic pin, with the stallion’s movement captured in exquisite 14K gold.  Look at the flying hooves, the diamond studded mane and tail flowing freely behind! You can almost imagine the thunder as he crosses the pasture, the powerful hindquarters beating out freedom’s exhilirating song.

Festive and unique, this pin measures an inch and a half wide and an inch and a quarter tall: the perfect size. It’s big enough to make a statement, small enough to be appropriate in almost any setting.

This stallion would look right at home, galloping across the lapel of your blazer. Bring some of your passion, energy, and free spirit into the office with you, that vitality that separates you from teh rest.  Ruby eyes shine bright, adding the perfect touch of color.  Very versatile, you can wear this for a casual event or an artistic outing; the possibilities are limitless!

Best of all, because we want every horse lover out there to have the perfect gift under the tree, it’s on sale.  Normally, you’d pay $2,100 for this pin, testament to the quality, workmanship, and unique styling here.  High quality gold horse jewelry is hard to find!  But now, this beautiful gold horse pin can be yours for only $850 — a savings of $1,250 — mor than 50% off!  Of course, quantities are limited, so you’ll want to act fast.

With the holidays approaching and budgets tight all over, you can still make your horse lover’s shiniest dreams come true.  Shop early, and visit EquestrianJewelry.com for one of a kind vintage and estate pieces, stunning gold horse jewelry, shiny silver horse jewelry, and more. We make giving easy — and if you start now, you can make it memorable!