During the past couple months I have plunged back into creating jewelry. Not only have I discovered sources for local stones, but also I am learning about the incredible mineral deposits in Brazil. This inspired me to create a collection called "Brazil" based on the country's ubiquitous green and yellow.
The national colors find their origins in the Brazilian flag, sometimes referred to as Auriverde, Portuguese for '(of) gold and green'. Although some say that the golden yellow represents the country's mineral or raw wealth, while the green represents the forests, the flag's green field and gold rhombus were preserved from the imperial flag, which derived its colors from the House of Braganza (green) of Pedro I, the first emperor of Brazil, and the House of Habsburg (gold), from which Empress Maria Leopoldina hailed.
The national colors find their origins in the Brazilian flag, sometimes referred to as Auriverde, Portuguese for '(of) gold and green'. Although some say that the golden yellow represents the country's mineral or raw wealth, while the green represents the forests, the flag's green field and gold rhombus were preserved from the imperial flag, which derived its colors from the House of Braganza (green) of Pedro I, the first emperor of Brazil, and the House of Habsburg (gold), from which Empress Maria Leopoldina hailed.
Whatever the meaning of the flag's colors, Brazilians have adopted green and yellow as theirs and take great pride in wearing colors during all sorts of events, such as this block party attended by 20,000 people, including my husband, daughter and me, during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year:
or sporting events (the national soccer team is known as O Verde e Amarelo, 'The Green and Yellow") like the men's beach volleyball game of Brazil versus Russia we attended at Copacabana Beach during the Rio Olympics:
or during political demonstrations, like this one last year on Avenida Paulista during the impeachment campaign against then President Dilma Rousseff.
Within Brazil's vast mineral wealth are citrine, emeralds and aventurine. Brazilian citrine is heat-treated amethyst, sometimes referred to as 'burnt amethyst' and accounts for the majority of the world's citrine. Amethysts are found in several states but primarily in Rio Grande do Sul. The precious stone emerald comes from Minas Gerais, while aventurine is mined in Bahia.
With these stones I created the Brazil Collection made with gold-fill chain and findings. The following are citrine and emeralds:
With these stones I created the Brazil Collection made with gold-fill chain and findings. The following are citrine and emeralds:
These are citrine and aventurine:
Green and yellow also have significance when bringing in the New Year in Brazil. Wear yellow to attract prosperity, and wear green to attract health. So here's to your health and prosperity and to wearing something emblematic of Brazil!