Cleopatras Bling

Combine the protective properties of the Gorgoneion, and the power of the Lion, with these mix-and-match hoops.

The Olympic deities Athena and Zeus are both said to have used the image of the gorgoneion as an amulet of protection. Their use of magic against evil is a practise carrying across the centuries. As such, the wearing of the Gorgon’s image emphasises the divine aspects within all of us. It’s fearsome yet beautiful face represents what has been called a dynamic life energy, the tug of wild spirits that calls to all of us. Affixed to small hoops, the Gorgoneion Earrings speak to unchecked hearts and minds.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free.

Your unique piece of jewellery by Cleopatra's Bling has been handmade using traditional jewellery techniques and exceptional materials.

As we hand craft each piece, slight variations are to be expected and are what make our designs one-of-a-kind.

Please be gentle with your treasures and do not apply lotions and perfume while wearing your gold plated pieces. Please avoid water when wearing gold plated jewellery.

Sterling silver that is worn regularly requires less care, so we encourage you to wear your silver treasures daily.

We have been working with Tülay Çalışkan and Ferda Yılmaz from Atakum, Samsun, a city located in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Tülay Abla (Abla in Turkish means older sister, it's used also when a woman is older than us to express respect towards her) is a teacher of handmade beaded jewellery at the Public Education Center in Atakum and Ferda Abla is one of her experienced students.

Tülay Abla began beading 25 years ago and is mostly self taught. She has been interested in handmade goods and arts and crafts since an early age. Her love of beading began when she came across a diagram for beading in a newspaper and started learning by herself which eventually turned into her profession. She has supported her two daughters selling what she creates, has been a professional teacher for the last 7 years and is dedicated to educating other women. Tülay abla also teaches the craft of beading and handmade jewellery in women’s shelters in her area.

Ferda Abla is a science teacher and mother of two but beading is like meditation for her. Since a young age she has been drawn to craft including stitching, embroidery and knitting. Ferda Abla has been learning beading from and working with Tülay Abla and together they have collaborated with Cleoptra’s Bling and are excited to be supporting charity in Turkey.

Handmade beaded nazar from Turkey, 1.5 18K micron gold plating over nickel and lead free bronze.

The mythology of cicadas within Ancient Greek tradition speaks to the cycle of death and rebirth. This applies not only to an entire lifetime, but to ourselves within our lifetimes, as we constantly regenerate, even out of hardship, and blossom into newness.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free. Dimensions: Width - 1.7cm; Length - 3cm

Miniature Apollo Sun Earrings. Apollo is a god of many things, including: music, poetry, art, oracles, sun and light.

Handcrafted earrings individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe gives its beauty. 18k Gold Plated, nickel and lead free.

Gauri is the Hindu Goddess of love and fertility. She celebrates the monsoon for its fecundity, in washing away the old and bringing about the new. Wherever she is present, she is known to strengthen family and romantic ties.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free. 

The Hurrem Sultan was painted by Titian in 1550. It is no wonder that Titian chose her for his subject, as she rose from the Ottoman Harem, to become the wife of the Sultan and to reign during an era that came to be known as the Sultanate of Women. Her name in Persian meant “the cheerful one”, which she earned thanks to her playful and joyous spirit. Her will to overcome was immense, and yielded her great prominence and power. Her magnificence is on full display in Titian’s portrait, in which she wears a jewel-encrusted headdress, fashioned from gold and silk.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free. Dimensions: Width of hanging charm - 2.5cm; Length of hanging charm - 1.5cm; Total length - 4cm.

The Ottoman Charm Necklace takes as its pendant an ancient coin from that empire. It was one under which there was great tolerance of a variety of religions, and, during the so-called Tulip Period, the arts flourished and peace and prosperity reigned. The coin is set on a cable-link necklace.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free. Dimensions: Pendant width - 2.6cm, Pendant length - 2.8cm (including bauble), Chain length - 50cm.

Ak Ana, meaning white, or “pure”, mother is a Turkish sea goddess. She is a symbol of strength, often being depicted with a crown of antlers that signified her stature. She inspires bold, positive action, and is thought to support the creative force within. The Ak Ana Earrings are set with enamel, and freshwater pearl - a moon symbol, connected to hidden feminine knowledge.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free. Dimensions: Length- 1.8cm.

These two ancient coins depict warmth and illumination. The smaller coin contains the love and light of the Mother and Child. The larger coin is a depiction of an angel, staff in hand. Angels that carry staffs are said to be bringers of healing, compassion, strength, and wisdom in moments of struggle. The reverse of the larger coin depicts the profile of an ancient warrior.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free. Size of angel coin: 1.5cm x 1.5cm, size of smaller coin: 1cm x 1cm. 

Olivia sources ancient and rare coins and stones from the back streets of the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, Turkey. She re-creates designs with them to make modern-day, wearable art. It is said that if everybody wears a string of rudrakshas, there will be world peace. Rudrakshas represent the tears of compassion of Lord Shiva.

Handcrafted. Each piece is unique, which we believe gives its beauty.18k gold plated Byzantine coin, lapis lazuli, rudraksha, rutile quartz, rudrani.

According to popular Turkish belief a dark look has the power to inflict misfortune on a person or property. The amulet of the Nazar is believed to absorb these foreboding energies. Enameled with deep blue and bright white, the eye design is a mimicry of the blue eyes that ancient Turkic peoples associated with witchcraft and sorcery. The bead’s design takes this magical power, and turns it into a protective force.

Enamel work, 1.5 18K micron plating over nickel and lead free bronze. Earring dimension 7mm x 9mm.

The moon has always been a symbol of the woman. We find this mysterious relationship between the three phases of the Moon, the seasonal rhythms of the Earth, and the three stages in a woman's life. All of this we can find symbolically depicted in the lunar image of the Goddess. She represented the primary image that influenced nearly all concepts of Deity for at least 20,000 years.

The almond-shaped cloud of luminescence which surrounds sacred personages is called a Mandorle. It shows heavenly moments which transcend time and space - a resurrection, or a prophecy, a transfiguration, and an ascension. Here the Byzantine Mandorle Medallion is surrounded by three emeralds which enhance loyalty, love, and happiness.

The Nazar Boncuğu, or “eye bead”, is a part of an amuletic and artistic practice from Turkey, Greece, Persia, India, Pakistan and the surrounding regions. It’s design has changed little over thousands of years, dating back to the earliest traditions of glass moulding. Despite persecution, the tradition of glassmaking has survived, to ensure that the evil eye can continue to perform its protective service over the people who carry it on their person.

Handmade glass beads from Turkey, enamel work, 1.5 18K micron gold plating over nickel and lead free bronze.

Total length of the necklace is 40cm. Each glass bead is 8mm. Each hand clasp is 2.5cm. Eye pendant 1.5cm x 1cm.

Blue eyes were considered to be a sign of the Gods by the ancient Sumerians, and they decorated many statues with these. In East Asian cultures, deep blue was associated with water, and light blue with the sky. The two together represented life, and thus were powerful. This symbol came to be interpreted as the Nazar, an amulet which could ward off the curse of the “evil eye”.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free. Dimensions: Pendant width - 2.5cm, Pendant length - 2.5cm, Chain length - 50cm.

Gauri is the Hindu Goddess of love and fertility. She celebrates the monsoon for its fecundity, in washing away the old and bringing about the new. Wherever she is present, she is known to strengthen family and romantic ties.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free. 

The moon has always been a symbol of the woman. We find this mysterious relationship between the three phases of the Moon, the seasonal rhythms of the Earth, and the three stages in a woman's life. All of this we can find symbolically depicted in the lunar image of the Goddess. She represented the primary image that influenced nearly all concepts of Deity for at least 20,000 years. 

Handcrafted moon pendant individually cast. Each piece is unique, which makes her beauty. Sent with a chain, please select length when checking out. Size of moon face: 1.9cm x 1.9cm. 

As we wander through life, we encounter deserts from time to time. Long stretches of the dusty and the arid, in which dry heat surrounds us, and we see no oasis on the horizon. The glimpses of beauty to be found here are all the more captivating for their rarity. They defy their surroundings through their soft, lush blooming. The desert rose has come to define this for Olivia, and is the name of the collection to which this necklace belongs. The Fortuna Charm Necklace, called after the fickle Roman goddess of fortune, reminds us to treasure the shimmering memories of joyous times. It also tells us to search for, and to collect, the beautiful kernels, that can be found, if we look closely, within the dark interludes of life’s journey. They glow with light, guiding our way back to the beautiful and the good.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free. Dimensions: Total length - 49.5cm.

In Arabic, shams means sun. Brighten up your days.

Inspired by the Gypsy women Olivia saw in Istanbul from Syria and Eastern Europe. An ode to their free, wild spirits.

Handcrafted earrings individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe gives its beauty. Sterling silver. 2.2 x 2cm. 

The Neptune Braid Hoops are inspired by the treasures found in rockpools along coastlines around the world. Natural objects line the dark edges - limpets, glinting rocks, and aquatic plants. Mermaid’s Tresses - also known as sea lace - is a kind of seaweed that grows towards the light. Like a mermaid’s long braid, it sways in the undersea currents. Entangled in the plants are sparkling fish scales, and perhaps, even, a golden dubloon or lost jewel. Sift through the sand with your fingers, to find the treasures that lie below.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Certified recycled sterling silver. Nickel and lead free. Dimensions: Width (thickness of hoop) - 0.4cm; Length (top of hoop to lowest point of hoop) - 3.1cm; Width (front of hoop to back) - 3cm.

Combining two powerful motifs - that of the Gorgon and of the Sun - these earrings reflect shades of both lightness and dark. The Gorgon, whose terrible face was worn as a protective amulet by the Gods of Olympus is surrounded by rays of sunlight.

Handcrafted and individually cast. Each piece is unique, which we believe is what gives it its beauty. Nickel and lead free.

Olivia sources ancient and rare coins from the back streets of the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, Turkey. She re-creates designs with them to make modern-day, wearable art.

A reminder that we are all in this strange Universe together.

The almond-shaped cloud of luminescence which surrounds sacred personages is called a Mandorle. It shows heavenly moments which transcend time and space - a resurrection, or a prophecy, a transfiguration, and an ascension. Here the Byzantine Mandorle Medallion is surrounded by three sapphires which enhance loyalty, love, and happiness.

 * Please note picture is with emeralds - actual necklace has sapphires