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Throwback Thursday for Chinese New Year

February 19, 2015 by WendyB

I really need to get back to writing my history-inspired posts! Here’s a throwback one in honor of the Chinese New Year. One of my favorite badass royal ladies was Empress Wu, as she’s known now. When she ruled China in the 7th century, she used the name Emperor Shensheng (spelling may vary), making her the only female ruler of China to use the male title of “emperor.” In 2007 and 2008, I had a fun time telling her story:

  • Empress Wu, Part I
  • Empress Wu, Part II

Three years after those posts, I unveiled my jewelry tribute to Wu: an 18K-gold dragon ring with diamond eyes and a spinning lapis lazuli globe in its mouth.

Empress-Wu-Dragon_M__96883_std

Click to see this one-of-a-kind piece on my website.

Here is how the ring looks on …

EmpressWuRing__23555_std

Seen on model Tina J.

 

… and here it is in motion.

A video posted by Wendy Brandes Jewelry PR (@wendybrandesjewelry) on Feb 19, 2015 at 12:59pm PST

Once I got the ring done, I did matching earrings.

dragonearringslowres2-768x1024

Click to see how they look on model Tina J.

In the December 2011 post I did about the earrings, I showed photos of the whole design process, taking you from from initial sketch, to wax model, to metal just out of casting, to the final product.

Click here to see the dragon earrings as a work-in-progress.

By the way, this is the Year of the Sheep (or Goat) — meaning it’s my year! If we go with goat, I’m a double zodiac goat, because I’m also a Capricorn. Hmmm! Does that make me one of those screaming goats that are so popular in commercials lately?

This is my favorite screaming-goat ad because I like the way Rick the goat’s colleague, Kelly, is ready to kick some goat butt.

Happy New Year!

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Filed Under: Animals, earrings, holidays, my designs, queens, rings

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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Original jewelry designs, photos and text are © Wendy Brandes 2007-2016. All rights reserved.

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