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Since ancient times the apple tree has been regarded as one of the most sacred. Its fruit bestowing wisdom and immortality upon those who taste it. An abundance of delicate blossom symbolises longevity, enticing the concept of continuing life, even after we endure a ‘death’ during the winter of our lives. This belief is widely supported by Indo-European mythologies, where the Goddess usually magic immortality apples to a man, hero, ancestor, or god.

The graceful and powerful Bastet, a woman with the head of a cat, was revered in ancient Egypt as the goddess of motherhood. She was the protector of home, family, and children. According to the testimony of the ancient historian Herodotus, the city of Bubastis was the centre of the Bastet cult. Every year, the goddess was celebrated with a sumptuous feast. The opposite of the joyful goddess Bastet was Anubis, the god of the realm of the afterlife. Anubis was often depicted next to her in the form of a dog.

At the beginning of the 3rd century, an
emperor of the Chinese Han dynasty created a small model of his vast empire. He grew tiny trees specifically for this purpose. The art of bonsai was born. Ancient Taoists, followers of the great spiritual teachings of China, believed that people could give trees longevity in the form of bonsai. Buddhist monks thought that working
with bonsai made a person like a god. According to
legend, houses with a bonsai tree bestow intuition and the ability to foresee the future upon its owner.

Thomas Love Peacock once wrote: ‘The juice of the grape is the liquid quintessence of concentrated sunbeams.’ Images and depictions of grapevines have long adorned frescoes, altars, and the stained glass of churches. As the name suggests, Grapes with Rubies features a design with gold vines, pearl grapes and leaves dotted with tiny rubies and embedded jadeite. One of our most popular designs, this fragile piece symbolises fertility, abundance and wealth.

Horses have come to symbolise freedom and blithe spirit. Throughout history, horses have appeared in works of art, often depicted in battle or regal settings. The horse is both regal and majestic. Some of the earliest representations date back more than 17,000 years, carved into dense stone walls and caves. The Horsewoman card represents exceptional craftsmanship and handiwork, showcasing 138 separate diamond
pieces alongside unique materials, such as turquoise, lazurite, mother of pearl, seashell and jasper.

Young geisha under cherry blossoms. A clear sky. The smooth surface of a lake. A little house on the shore. This exquisite picture embodies the Japanese the concept of ‘sabi’. The inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun use the word sabi to represent genuine beauty in its most common manifestations. The Japanese elevated the appreciation of nature and art to the level of philosophy. The Sabi lapidary card combines the brevity and subtlety that are so valued by the Japanese.

The scarab beetle is considered one of the
most famous symbols of ancient Egypt. It is an embodiment of the god Khepri, lord of the dawn, invariably moving from east to west mirroring the daily path of the Sun. The Egyptians believed that just as the scarab’s ball stores live larvae, so does the body of a deceased person contain the embryo of a new life, a glowing immortal soul. In ancient texts, the scarab was called the ‘God dwelling in the heart; the creator guarding the light.

Masks, and in particular Venetian masks, have
a long history of protecting the wearer’s
identity during evenings of decadent and
rueful activities. Often loud and distinctive,
decorative masks are wildly decorated with fur, fabric, gems, and feathers. Celebrating hedonism and a form of pageantry, these elegant masks have been worn since antiquity. Made with the highest care and craftsmanship, the precious rubies, blue sapphires and diamonds in this durable and dynamic card stand out in every room and social setting.

Toucans represent communication and showmanship. Usually found in pairs or small flocks, toucans sometimes fence with their bills and wrestle to establish dominance hierarchies. The largest known species in the family is the toco toucan, depicted on our card by two playful birds in the vines of the Brazilian Amazon with brilliant black and green diamonds.