More about Silverweed

Inspirations | Hanna Lindenberg | CV

Silverweed, lat. Potentilla anserina, is a small ground hugging plant, at home in many parts of the world.....
.....also called moongrass......
............. potentilla = the small powerful one.......

Inspirations

jewellery draws its inspiration from Nature and the Art of the ancient matriarchal cultures of Europe. The jewellery emerges as if lifted from an ancient treasure and connects you to a timeless tradition of powerful women and our being part of nature. The symbolism of these pieces is fluid and many-layered, open to new interpretations.

It was the work of Marija Gimbutas that first drew Hanna to explore ancient cultures.

Images of Women and Goddesses

From earliest prehistoric times until about 3.000 years ago, images of women and goddesses abound (with an almost total absence of male imagery). Somewhere, we still remember and jewellery is meant to contribute to bring back that memory.

Figure with necklace and raised arms reflects an image still found among European peasants today. The comb is worn for healing and protection. This image suggests that modern practices hold a more ancient tradition than ever previously imagined. From: Ukraine Age: ca. 6.000 years Material: clay	Lady of Se One of many figures that often had long necks and a bird shaped head. From: Hungary Age: ca. 7.000 years Material: unburnt clay Size: 21,2 cm	Temple Model in the shape of a goddess wearing a necklace. From: Bulgaria Age: ca. 8.000 years Material: clay Size: 17.1 cm high

Violin-shaped figurines one with V-shaped necklace and large pubic triangle From: Cycladic Islands Age: ca. 5.200-4.800 years The words 'violin' and 'fiddle' are etymologically related, both derived from a later version of this goddess, Vitula, the Roman goddess of victory or jubilation.		Dancing Bird Goddess on Minoan seal From: Crete, Late Minoan III Age: ca. 3.500 - 3.330 years

Meaning of the Labrys or Double Axe

The Labrys is one of the symbols that have been rediscovered by present day women. It was an important symbol in parts of prehistoric Africa and in Anatolia (Catal Hüyük). But the most famous depictions of labrys date from Minoan Crete, a matriarchal culture that thrived between 5.100 and 3.100 years ago. Since the early 1970´s the Labrys has become a lesbian symbol in many parts of the world.

The context in which the Labrys is usually shown makes it obvious that it is a spiritual symbol rather than a weapon. The word "labrys" is Minoan in origin and is from the same root as the Latin "labus", or lips. It stands for the waxing and waning Moon and all natural processes, the butterfly out of the chrysalis, the battleaxe of the Amazons, matriarchal cultures, movement and change, to claim one´s own space.

Minoan figurine holding two Labrys From: Crete	Gold Labrys From: Crete Age: 3.500 years	Labrys on Minoan Vase From: Crete	Gold seal ring From: Isopata Tombs, Crete Age: 3.500 years Size: 1x2 cm

Early Jewellery

Jewellery has always had spiritual and symbolic significance. The earliest jewellery worn was probably of perishable material such as wood, berries, etc. and nothing of it has survived. The earliest surviving jewellery is of pierced shells, engraved animal teeth and carved ivory.

Ring with fishtail motive From: France Age: ca. 30.000 years Material: ivory Size: 3.8 cm	Necklace of deer teeth found at a women's burial. Each tooth is incised with a different symbol. From: Gironde, France Age: ca. 20.000 years Material: deer teeth

When metal working started, it was a spiritual activity, closely connected with the goddess.

Crucible with breasts From: Bulgaria Age: ca. 6.500 years Material: clay Size: 16.2 cm	Gold ornament in the shape of an open-mouthed goddess From: Bulgaria Age: ca. 5.500 years Material: gold

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Environmental Statement

Hanna is aware that nowadays gold, silver and precious stones are taken from the earth with the most brutal and environmentally destructive methods.

Therefore Hanna encourages the recycling of precious materials wherever possible. She absolutely adores working with these wonderful materials that are part of the Earth and gives thanks as best she can.

CV

was founded by Hanna Lindenberg in 1987, one of many small businesses that have emerged out of the women's movement of the 70s and 80s. On these pages Hanna would like to share the excitement and satisfaction that the development of has meant.

Hanna Lindenberg, born in 1956 in Cologne, Germany. 1976 - 1982 Study of Nutritional Science at Bonn University. 1982 - 1986 Apprenticeship as a gold- and silversmith in Bonn. After that, Hanna moved to Wales in 1986 to set up her own business, . She has now more than 20 years experience as a jeweller, has taught women jewellery-making since 1989, and holds TEFL/TESOL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language/Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certificates from Trinity College, London, and the University of Aberystwyth since 2001. Hanna has been active in the women's and lesbian movement since 1978. She loves to travel and has exhibited and sold her work in Britain, Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand and America.

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