Silver Heart

South America
Silver 925
Modern

Inventory# V026

In modern culture the heart is best known as a symbol of romantic love but it has long been been associated with profound emotions and important virtues such as compassion, generosity, and sincerity. Throughout history beliefs surrounding the heart have also been a source of inspiration in music, literature, art, and the inclusion of a heart in a painting or sculpture represented a passion for god or a spiritual hunger. The heart has long been viewed as the nucleus of physical and emotional well being with all languages having popular heart related phrases. We say something cheerful, robust, or abundant is hearty, and that someone kind-hearted is considerate. Heart-felt, a lot of heart, or a good, big, warm-heart is highly desirable but heartlessness, false or cold-heartedness, or a heart of stone are carefully avoided. A brave-heart is a courageous one, an unblemished one is pure, and to have a broken heart means to suffer great emotional loss. In Catholicism the sadness of the Virgin Mary over the death of her son is represented by a heart pierced with a dagger--or alternately seven, with each representing a distinct sorrow. Associated with the suffering of Christ the heart symbolizes his blood that converts to the wine used in Holy Communion that promises to redeem and absolve the faithful of their sin. 

Each piece in our heart collection is hand made by talented and skilled Andean craftsmen.  These Aymara-speaking silversmiths continue an artistic tradition that was first practiced by their Huari and Incan ancestors over 1000 years ago.  Following the 16th century Spanish conquest of the Incan empire the native silversmiths began producing highly refined European designs for the newly arrived Spanish noble class.  Their magnificent production was also exported to Spain and the European continent. 

Each heart is handcrafted using the chaise and repousse technique and without the use of molds.  For this reason, though a design is repeated several times, no two will ever be identical. Each design can be purchased in small, medium, or large size. Price includes base. The bases are optional and if not needed their cost may be deducted from the selling price.