Puttin’ on the Ritz with Jewelry from the French Marketplace at Sweet Romance

Aug. 24, 2012 - PRLog -- Jewelry designer and historian, Shelley Cooper, called upon her memories of a trip to Paris and the spoils from a long-ago shopping trip at one of Paris’ most famous flea markets to create the intricate detailing of her vintage style Souvenir de Paris Victorian Shadow Box Pendant.  

“At one vendor’s stall there stood only a long wooden table, piled high with metal souvenirs, jewelry and miniature picture frames,” Cooper explained.  “I bought what I thought was a locket that turned out to be a shadow box pendant, a souvenir of the 1889 Paris Expo.”

It was in 1899 that La Tour Eiffel was finished as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair, the Paris Expo. It quickly became the global symbol of France and one of the most romantic and recognizable structures in the world. Visitors to the Fair bought souvenirs which were saved and cherished by successive generations and collectors.

“Decades after acquiring it, I wanted to share this beloved object, preserving its fundamental look by creating and hand applying its small, fragile elements,” she said.

The luxurious pendant is a work of art.  The glass enclosed shadow box has a background image taken from an old photo of the Eiffel Tower at sunset. A delicate sprig of tiny forget-me-not flowers is set with glass, seed pearls and crystal. A tiny banner "Souvenir de Paris" reminds the wearer of their visit to the city of romance while other details include decorative lace edge and bezel, French bow, Fleur-de-Lis bracket and vintage style chain. Mixed metal finishes in burnished silver and bronze, in combination with all the elements and textures, give off the look of vintage luxury.

“Every time you look inside,” Cooper concluded, “you’ll be transported to the far-back-in-time romance of a city that continues to stir our hearts and imaginations.”

Sweet Romance Jewelry Manufacturing is an American design house and manufacturer producing the jewelry lines of Sweet Romance and Ollipop.  CEO Shelley Copper is an artist, designer and historian who weaves history, beauty and imagination into jewelry designs which radiate the authenticity and spirit of many eras of fashion history.  Her lines are sold to retailers and wholesalers worldwide as well as through the online jewelry boutique at sweetromanceonline.com and shelleycooper.com.