The Wings – An Artist-Illustrated Silk Twill Scarf Inspired by Timeless Love and Heritage
Wings Silk Twill Scarf- a gift with a story, crafted from luxurious silk twill, measures a generous 90×90 cm and showcases a design steeped in history and symbolism. Its inspiration comes from the winged spinning distaffs of old—objects imbued with cultural meaning and totemic designs that carried messages of eternal love.
A Love Story in Every Detail
In tradition, shepherds would carve these intricate distaffs while spending months in the mountains, from the Feast of Saints Constantine and Helen to Saint Demetrius’ Day. Their purpose? To create heartfelt gifts for their sweethearts or fiancées. These tokens of love were more than mere objects—they were powerful symbols of devotion.
Young women played a pivotal role in this love ritual. Accepting a distaff signified mutual affection, while breaking it was a symbolic rejection, a gesture heavy with emotional significance.
Personal Touches of Romance
Shepherds who could write often personalized their distaffs with engravings, including the year, their beloved’s name, and sometimes verses of love. These creations were often presented during “șezători,” traditional social gatherings filled with symbolism, where romantic gestures intertwined with the rhythms of rural life.
A Design Rooted in History
One such distaff, engraved with the name Alice, inspired the intricate design of this scarf. It draws from an exhibit at the “Ioan Raica” Municipal Museum in Sebeș, hailing from the village of Șugag. Additional motifs are inspired by broken distaffs collected by Octavian Goga in Mărginimea Sibiului, particularly from Tilișca, and published in Luceafărul on February 15, 1906.
Beyond Romance: A Universal Symbol
The spinning distaff transcends romantic symbolism, representing an ancient narrative of creation and cosmic balance. As described by Ion Drăgușanul, it embodies a “primordial cosmogony,” where the cosmic tree, guarded by Mars and served by Venus, shelters the Universal Spirit as the Sun.
The Wings scarf celebrates enduring love, cultural heritage, and the artistry of a bygone era, weaving together history and beauty in a wearable masterpiece.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.