Blog News

In honor of American Archives Month, the historic preservation of sentimental materials and objects connected to our stories is celebrated and emphasized.  Our family portraits of loved ones are significant materials reflecting the meaningful stories connected to historical events and places. Physical objects relating to the past are primary sources connected to our ancestors' lives. To continue their legacies and uplift their accurate stores, historic preservation work should include the materials that were sentimental in their stories. What exactly are 'archives'? Archives are historical records documenting the places, stories, and objects connected to our lives and the ancestors before us. Even...

  The Art Nouveau Movement (c.1890-c.1915) was created in France and was short-lived partly due to World War 1 (1914-1918). The designs of The Art Nouveau Era ('New Art') were inspired by the natural world. Popular motifs included insects such as butterflies and dragonflies. In Art Nouveau jewelry, the pieces often emphasized a woman's physical features, being surrounded by a serene nature setting and mythical creatures such as mermaids. The artistic merit and natural beauty of semi-precious stones were emphasized in Art Nouveau jewelry instead of value. Moonstones, opals, amethyst, malachite, and enamel were all used in many jewelry pieces...

Recently, in honor of Historic Preservation Month, I wrote a featured article in Worthwhile Magazine celebrating the accurate representation and realistic defining attributes of Black Americana. I am honored to include the article within the Historic Preservation Blog section of Zanathia Jewelry.   When reflecting on the primary image of Black Victorians, incorrect caricatures fueled by racism and white supremacy ideologies have overwhelmingly misconstrued the authentic essence of Black Americana and its material culture. 19th-century societal views significantly diminished the Black Victorian image and created a false narrative that did not reflect their true identity. Yet, the Black Victorian family...

Although the word 'blackamoor' is a somewhat controversial term, the exquisite collection of African royal-like figures is an elegant and essential representation to preserve. Over time, 'blackamoor' began to describe a darker-skinned African of Moorish heritage that resided in the ancient Iberian Peninsula cities such as Mauretania and Al-Andalus. During the early Modern Period (c. the 1450s-1800s), stunning blackamoor cameos were created during the Renaissance Era. The remarkable portraits often incorporated jewelry onto the African figure, referred to as a cameo habille. Several examples of blackamoor cameos from different periods, including 19th-century Victorian Era antiques. Their high-quality craftsmanship complements the overall allure of the...

The powerful stories connected to our ancestral heirlooms are not only primary sources for studying history but also significant to our narratives. March is Women’s History Month, and preserving the materials connected to their lives is essential to protecting the legacies of the women we love and honor in history. We uplift their names, stories, and memories and study their journeys. Protecting the sentimental heirlooms belonging to women throughout history is vital to historic preservation and accurate representation. When we collect and preserve archival records of women throughout history, we can emphasize their stories without inaccurate distortions. For example, Black...