Title: Swan Maiden - Collectible/ Objet d'Art
Artist: Steph Lusted

Myths & Legends Exhibition

One-of-a-kind

Materials: Sterling Silver, 24ct Gold Leaf, 9ct Yellow Gold, 9ct Red Gold, Handcrafted Lead Crystal Glass, Moonstones, Bronze, Natural Mother of Pearl Shell

Dimensions: W240 x  D195 H90 mm
(Height = from Base to top of Swan)
Swan Maiden: W60 x D30 x H52 mm

The Swan Maiden Objet d’art is a visual ode to the Swan Maiden Myth. The Swan, crafted in Sterling Silver, can be lifted off the glass lake and held in one’s hand. She has a hinged section in her feather cloak, which reveals a secret compartment to store a keepsake. She glides across a lake of glass which sits inside a large, natural, Mother of Pearl Shell. The Shell itself is supported by fish and Eels which are crafted in Bronze.  
The Swan Maiden is accompanied on the lake by three fresh water fish, a Giant Kokopu and an Upland and Redfin Bully, each native to New Zealand. Nestled on the shore of the lake to one side, is a pile of river stones with moonstones set in amongst the sterling silver pebbles. On the other side of the lake is a cluster of water lily pads crafted in sterling silver with droplets of water represented as moonstones.

Swan Maidens in Myth:

International myths and stories of Swan Maidens can vary in detail, but all usually feature a Swan who shapeshifts into a young woman when she removes her cloak of feathers to bathe. The woman is seen by a man who falls in love with her and in order to marry her, he hides her feather cloak so she may not fly away. Some years later, the woman discovers the hidden feather cloak and immediately flies back to her homeland.
Swan maidens feature in Wayland the Smith (Franks casket, British Museum) as Weyland’s wife, Hervor, along with her sisters were all swan maidens. First seen with her swan sisters bathing in a lake, their swan-feather capes alongside them on the shore. They were all Valkyries who used their feather capes to fly. Similar to the myth of the swan maiden are ‘selkies’ who also shapeshift between the form of an animal (seal) and a woman by removing their seal skin.

Please note: This piece is part of the current exhibition Myths & Legends which is on show from the 1st-31st May. These works will be available to pick up in store (Steph Lusted Jewellery & Objets d'Art, 17 Whitmore Street, Wellington) on Saturday 31st May. Otherwise, if you choose the shipping option, will be couriered out to you on Tuesday 3rd June. Thank you for your understanding. Please contact me directly if you need this piece before these dates. 

For International Interest from outside of New Zealand: Please contact me directly for a personalized shipping quote.