nannasalmi horsehair jewellery goes museum!

 

Lahti, our hometown, is a town of watch and jewellery makers. The School Of Watchmaking was founded in 1944 and was located in Lahti until 1959.

The goldsmith school was founded earlier, already in 1938, and schooling of goldsmiths and engravers still continues in Lahti.

Teachers of the watchmaking school started a watch collection for the use of the school, but the actual watch museum was founded not earlier than in the end of 1950’s. In 1981 Finland’s Watchmakers Foundation established in Helsinki the Finnish Museum of Horology, and the watch collection was donated there.

To add jewelleries to the collection of the watch museum was an item already about eight years ago. In a new location it would have been possible, but it took a year more of a juridical process to change the rules of the foundation. Finally in 14.6.2021 started the Finnish Museum of Horology and Jewellery Kruunu. The new museum will open its doors in March in Tapiola, Espoo. About a year ago, when it was clear that the rules of the foundation will be changed, Nanna was contacted by the museum.

”When I first saw a horsehair bracelet made by Nanna I was completely astonished how exquisite combination of woven miniature horsehair fabric and modern jewellery design it was. I knew this is something we have to get to the collection of the Finnish Museum of Horology and Jewellery. ”

Essi Pullinen, museum director 

Nanna and Essi met in the beginning of February and Nanna handed over the items for the museum collection.

”It was really great to meet Essi Pullinen and donate two pieces of my jewellery to the collection of the jewellery museum. When I made the first piece of my jewellery twenty two years ago I could not have imagined where it will lead.

The most important thing for me is that clients appreciate these jewelleries. I have heard dozens and dozens of stories of their horses and what these noble animals have ment to them. And though I have been weaving thousands of horse hair ribbons each hair bundle sent to me tells a new, interesting story. An emotional meaning of these jewelleries for those who wear them means a world to me. I feel honored to be able to create somethig so meaningful for them, items which will be some of the most valuable pieces in their jewellery box.  

But I also feel humble and greatful to receive honor from professional goldsmiths though I can’t make goldsmith work myself. The fact that jewelleries designed by me will be in a permanent collection in the only museum of the northern countries  specialized in watches and jewelleries is a great honor to me.”

In the museum’s jewellery collection there are now the bracelet Naomi and the ring Tuum.

"For the museum collection I chose the bracelet Naomi for two reasons: in its wide ribbon sophisticated patterns and colors are distinctly to be seen, and the plain design of the bracelet underscores its most important element, a miniature textile woven with horsehair. When I wear a piece of my jewellery, it’s Naomi."

”The ring Tuum was chosen by the same reasons as the bracelet Naomi. In this ring its distinct construction is clearly to be seen and Tuum is actually a basis of all the other rings in the collection.”

If you already have a piece of nannasalmi horsehair jewellery or you are planning to have one you know that it’s not just any jewellery. The ribbon is for you the most valuable part of it, but your jewellery is also much appreciated design which you can wear with love and joy your whole life.

And we assume that they are the first and only modern horsehair jewelleries in the collections of any museum...

See the whole collection and choose your own favourite one here:

nannasalmi horsehairjewellery shop

Horseshoe - A Good Luck Charm, But Why?

Did you know...

...that an early form of hoof protection was seen in ancient Asia, where horses' hooves were wrapped in rawhide, leather or other materials for both therapeutic purposes and protection from wear.

...that the Romans appeared to have attempted to protect their horses' feet with a strap-on, solid-bottomed "hipposandal" that has a slight resemblance to the modern hoof boot.

...that in 1897 four bronze horse shoes with what are apparently nail holes were found in an Etruscan tomb dated around 400 B.C

...that around 1000 AD, cast bronze horseshoes with nail holes became common in Europe. Common was a design with a scalloped outer rim and six nail holes.

Source Wikipedia

From these it has been a long way to the modern horseshoe. Nowadays horseshoes are available in a wide variety of materials, but also styles, developed for different types of horse and for the work they do.

Horseshoes have traditionally been common lucky charms. You can often see them hanging over the entrance of a home. Horseshoes are thought to bring good luck and protection over the centuries. But why people around the world believe in the luck of the humble horseshoe?

"In the Irish story of the blacksmith and the devil, one day a blacksmith was working hard in his shop forging horseshoes. Suddenly, the devil appeared and demanded his own shoes. The blacksmith, recognizing the devil, took a burning hot shoe and nailed it deep into the devil's hooves. After walking away, the devil was in such excruciating pain, he ripped the horseshoes off and swore he would never go near one again. Thus, the tradition of hanging a horseshoe over the entrance of a house to ward off evil spirits was born."

"Another story has more to do with the metal in the horseshoes. Early Western Europeans believed that iron had magical powers. Iron could drive away evil, and folklore of the time told of many malevolent fairies and mystical creatures. Since horseshoes were made of iron, they kept the badly behaving fairies away. Other legends said that witches were so afraid of iron horseshoes, they traveled on broomsticks instead of on horseback."

Source: people.howstuffworks.com

Horseshoes, like many other goods in our daily use, include both: practicality and beauty. Sometimes we just forget about the beauty of them. In a jewellery, the functional beauty can be very delicate, and can you imagine a better good luck charm for yourself than a ring, bracelet, necklace, tiebar or a plastron needle with your own horse´s tail hair? We bet you can´t!

Ring Artema Star. Also available without stones.

In the nannasalmi collection you find many designs with a horseshoe.

Which one would be your favourite lucky charm?

Bracelet Shoe-shoe, ribbon 6 mm

Bracelet Cedric, ribbon 9 mm

Necklace Salinero, ribbon 6 mm

Necklace Coriano

Plastron needle Max

Tiebar Poco Loco and matching cufflinks

An "everyday good" can become something special. Something fine that brings you good

luck and gives you the possibility to have your horse near you, every day.

Please, visit our website for more details:

www.horsehairjewellerynannasalmi.com

You just know it´s yours - Nancy and Dior.

In the beginning of November we published this photo collage on our Facebook page and Instagram. Soon there was a comment from Nancy.

 "Is it true that I recognize Dior´s grey hair on the ring Leyla?"

Yes, it was true!

In 2015 Nancy won ring Leyla in our raffle. Her late horse Dior had a few grey hair in black tail and she wished that one of them would be woven in the black ribbon. There it is!

Your horse is unique, so is the piece of jewellery we create for you using

your horse´s tail hair in the weave. Each woven tail hair ribbon looks individual

depending on the colour of hair we receive.

Dior 1.1.1985 - 8.10.2017

Ring Tuum - a ring for strong equestrian hands

Like the ring Amate, the ring Tuum is also very simple.
It´s wide and massive, the total width of the ring is 8.8 mm.

Ribbon style 'solid'

The  ribbon, 6 mm wide, shows off the pattern beautifully. Any

ribbon style looks good with this design.

                        "Getting the ring meant

                                   so much to me..."

Ribbon style 'flash'

Although massive and and wide, the ring is comfortable to

wear: it´s convex inside.

Ribbon style 'mountain peak'

    "It slips on your finger so easily!"

Ribbon style 'arrow head'

The ring Tuum has been a popular wedding band among the
equestrian fiancés. 

There is also a plenty of space for the engravings.

                                         "I do..."

Ribbon style 'broad stripe'

The ring Tuum is perfect for muscular hands.

We often hear the equestrian women complaining about their big
hands or thick fingers. That is just pointless!

You have beautiful, working, strong hands that can lead 500 kg
of horse exactly anywhere you wish. Be proud and just
choose the design strong and pretentious enough...

Ribbon style 'custom'

The whole collection of the original nannasalmi rings you find here:

www.horsehairjewellerynannasalmi.com

We know what your horse means to you. Our aim is to make for

you a lasting and meaningful keepsake which you can carry

with you for years to come.

Enquiries and orders also by email
minna.maattanen@nannasalmi.com

Don´t hesitate to contact us, we are glad to help you with your order

step by step.

About the Ring Amate

The ring Amate is actually the basis of the whole ring collection.

It´s simple, slender and shows the horse hair ribbon beautifully.

Ribbon style 'mountain peak'

In the ring Amate the ribbon is 3 mm wide, the total width

of the ring is 5.8 mm.

If your horse´s tail is monochrome, it doesn´t matter:

Horse hair is dim shiny like linen or silk; it looks beautiful.

   "It´s just perfect... Like my horse!"

Ribbon style 'solid', black

Amate, simple and slender 

Ribbon style 'solid', white

 Depending on the colors you find in your horse´s tail and the

ribbon style you choose, it always looks different and unique.

Ribbon style 'road'

The ring Amate is available in silver, gold and white gold.

In the picture below you can see that the inner side of the ring

is slightly convex. That makes it more comfortable to wear. High

edges protect the most valuable part - the ribbon.

Ribbon style 'arrow head'

If you wish to wear the ring daily we recommend gold or white gold.

Silver is soft and gets easily worn out in daily use.

 Ribbon style 'arrow head'

"I wear mine every day."

Wedding bands in gold

For bigger hands we have the ring "Tuum". It´s similar to the

ring Amate but wider.

We know what your horse means to you. Our aim is to make you

a lasting and meaningful keepsake which you can carry

with you for years to come.

See the entire collection

www.horsehairjewellerynannasalmi.com

nannasalmi rings

Enquiries and orders also by email

minna.maattanen@nannasalmi.com

photo source pxhere.com

Heart to Heart, You and Your Horse

She walks in Beauty, like the night

Of Cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

meet in her aspect and her eyes.

”She Walks in Beauty,” by Lord Byron

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me if your doing, my darling)

”i carry your heart with me” by E.E. Cummings

“Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken”

From ”Sonnet 116” by William Shakespeare

I love thee as I love the tone

Of some soft-breayhing flute

Whose soul is wak´d for me alone,

When all beside is mute.

”I love thee” Eliza Acton

Rings Carus and Carus Star
Bracelets Puella and Puella Star

Ribbon woven of your horse´s tail hair, the most beautiful way

to express your love and keep your dearest friend close to you.

Forever.

If you wish to have one, please, contact us!
Enquiries and orders by email

minna.maattanen(at)nannasalmi.com

www.horsehairjewellerynannasalmi.com

Equestrian Summer Wedding Top 3 Tips

Planning a summer wedding?
Here the top 3 tips for a perfect day:

1. Get the right kind of a foot wear for an outdoor wedding.

2. Find yourself the most wonderful and reliable bridesmaids.

3. Get yourselves the most beautiful wedding bands with a woven ribbon

made of your bridesmaid´s tail hair.

Number 4 could have been: Choose your future husband carefully,

pick the perfect one and live happily ever after, but we know, you did already...

Photo Lukas Navickas/Pexels

We wish all the brides and grooms joyful weddings and 

many happy years together!

Photo by Blueridgefloral

nannasalmi rings

Enquiries and orders by email

minna.maattanen@nannasalmi.com

About the Rings Cavaletti and Cavaletti Star

Cavaletti, also spelled cavalletti,  cavaletto (Italian: "little horse") are small jumps, 

originally made of wood, used for basic horse training. Most consist of rails that 

are about 4 inches (10 cm) wide, and 10 feet (3.0 m) long. The rails are inserted 

into fixed standards, usually made in an "X" shape, that commonly are designed 

to be placed at one of three preset heights ranging from a few inches off the 

ground to a maximum of about 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm).  
- WIKIPEDIA -

"Do you have something for show jumpers?"

When thinking of what special we could offer the show jumpers, Nanna went through all the jumps thinking, how to stylize a motive inspired by them and turn it into a great looking, but not so obvious embellishment for a ring that suit both, men and women.

At last, but not least, she thought about cavaletti. Everybody has started with them, and everybody, no matter if a hobby rider or a world champion, keeps working with them from time to time.

Ring Cavaletti, woven ribbon 'road'

Woven ribbon 'solid'

Woven ribbon 'custom'

The hand woven tail hair ribbon is 6 mm wide and the total

width of the ring is 8.8 mm. Looks great on men as well!

With the stones the ring is called Cavaletti Star.

Woven ribbon 'arrow head'

Woven ribbon 'flash'

This beautiful ring is available in solid silver (with Swarovskie cb`s), in solid gold 

or white gold (with diamonds).

In the pictures you can clearly see how high edges protect ribbon from hits and 

mechanical stress, metal plate shelters ribbon on palm side.

Inside surface is convex, that makes the ring more comfortable to wear.

Our whole, wide range of rings you´ll find here:

nannasalmi rings

Enquieries and orders by email

minna.maattanen@nannasalmi.com