More than just stones: What my moonstone collection reveals about Art Nouveau, Asia, and us today.

I have a confession to you—I've been keeping a little secret for months! My second collection is about to launch, and I'm both incredibly excited and nervous to finally share it with you. This "Moon Collection" is far more than just jewelry; it's a bridge between worlds, a homage to past art movements, and a reflection of what moves us today.

The roots of the collection: A task in Rome

It all began last October 2024 in Rome, where I began my jewelry design studies. One of our first assignments in the design course was to create a piece of jewelry inspired by our roots or a theme close to our hearts. Unsurprisingly for anyone who knows me, I chose Asian art—a passion that has become a core part of my creative identity.

This task sent me headfirst into a fascinating research hole. I dug deeper into the connections between East and West and came across something that deeply touched and surprised me: the story of how Asia met Europe and revolutionized European art.

When Asia met Europe: Art Nouveau and Japonisme

You've probably heard of Art Nouveau before. This revolutionary art movement, which began in Brussels around 1900 and quickly spread to France, Germany, and throughout Europe, sought a new style, a departure from the industrial mass production and rigidity of the time. The artists and designers of Art Nouveau turned to nature, inspired by plants, their movement, and organic, flowing forms.

But one of their most important sources of inspiration came from an unexpected source: Japan. When Japan's trade routes opened in the late 19th century, Japanese woodblock prints flooded Europe. Their bold lines, flat compositions, and natural motifs sparked a creative tremor—a phenomenon called Japonisme . Many European artists, including Impressionists like Vincent van Gogh, absorbed this new aesthetic. Van Gogh's 1890 painting "Blossoming Almond Branches" is a famous example of this love of Japanese simplicity and elegance. Art Nouveau jewelers were also inspired by the curved lines and asymmetry they found in Japanese prints.

A timeless longing for authenticity

What fascinated me so much was the realization that this transcultural exchange and this artistic rebellion against mass production took place over a hundred years ago. It shows us that ideas and desires are often timeless. And isn't it exciting how we are experiencing a similar return today? In a world of mass-produced perfection, we are once again drawn to organic forms and the beauty of imperfection.

This is exactly where my "Moon Collection" comes in. It embodies everything I love: the aesthetics of Asia, the artistic philosophy of Art Nouveau, and my deep connection with organic forms. It's almost comical how I stumbled upon this perfect combination by chance, one that existed a century before me. The collection is my very own way of continuing this captivating story.

Moonstones: Bridges between cultures

At the heart of this collection are moonstones – for me, the perfect stone ambassadors that connect East and West. In Asian cultures, especially in India and Sri Lanka, moonstones have been considered sacred for centuries, associated with deities, good luck, inner growth, and feminine energy. They were brought to Europe via ancient trade routes. They also play a role in Chinese culture, incorporating lunar symbolism and being associated with themes such as serenity.

In Europe, moonstones were prized as talismans of protection, intuition, and divine feminine power. The ancient Romans even believed moonstones were solidified moonlight. During the Art Nouveau period, jewelers like René Lalique were fascinated by their mysterious shimmer—that ethereal blue-white light that dances across the stone like moonlight on water. Lalique often incorporated moonstones into fantastical, nature-inspired pieces, such as his famous dragonfly brooches.

By focusing on moonstones, I've found the ideal gemstone to unite these cultural worlds. They speak to the flowing, organic aesthetic of Art Nouveau while honoring the deep spiritual and artistic traditions of Asia. Each stone thus becomes a bridge.

This collection represents my personal journey, my creative process, and all the fascinating historical puzzle pieces I've been fortunate enough to discover. It's not just jewelry; it's a continuation of a beautiful, centuries-old transcultural conversation, now united in the mystical radiance of moonstone and my own interpretation.

The creation of the "Moon Collection": A look behind the scenes

That's why I'm incredibly happy that the "Moon Collection" is finally complete and has seen the light of day! With its 11 unique pieces, each one tells its own story. The idea for these pieces of jewelry developed during my time in Rome, and back in Lübeck, I enthusiastically set about implementing them. While I normally work with the melted-wax process, this time I used a 3D program, which was much more precise for these detailed pieces. After initial ideas and sketches, the designs were developed in 3D, printed, and then cast. To achieve this, I worked closely with a specialized manufacturer in northern Italy and my teachers in Rome, and then had the stones set directly there by experienced gemsetters. It was a long and exciting chain of steps and collaborations that these pieces went through so that they are now finally here, and I can show them to you.