New Gorget Jewelry Series
New Gorget Jewelry Series
For the Daughters of the American Revolution American Heritage Competition “Rise, and Shine Your Light on Your Revolutionary War Patriot”, I designed and created a silver necklace based on my great-great-great-great-great grandfather Captain Joshua Hadley’s military service during the Revolutionary War. The design process required a lot of research and thought, which I thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot from. To my great surprise and esteemed honor, it was awarded First Place in the Jewelry category and later received a South Carolina House of Representatives House Resolution. Details about both can be read on this Blog page. The necklace garnered such a positive response that I decided to do a spin off jewelry series based on one of the necklace elements, the Gorget.
The Gorget traces its history back to medieval times when it was worn as a piece of armor around the neck to protect the throat. Over time the shape, size, and function changed and by the 17th century it became a symbol of rank among military officers of many countries. At this point it was suspended around the neck with a chain or ribbon and was purely decorative.
The white crescent shape on the South Carolina flag is thought to be partly inspired by the Gorget. The original flag flown during the American Revolution Battle of Sullivan’s Island in Charleston, SC on June 28, 1776 had a blue background with the white crescent in the upper left hand corner. The flag played a prominent role in the battle that day and the Americans successfully defeated the British, which was a turning point in the war and led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
My contemporary interpretation of this historic form was inspired by its prominence during the American Revolutionary War in which my great-great-great-great-great grandfather Captain Joshua Hadley was a Continental Army officer. He participated in many important battles throughout the American Revolution, including the Battle of Sullivan’s Island. I feel the Gorget is my way of honoring that important event in American history and my ancestor. It also speaks to the place in which I live and Charleston’s important role in the early days of the American republic.
This new jewelry collection includes two pendants and one pair of post style earrings. Shop the new series and my other silver jewelry designs in my website store Jewelry category.
New Christmas Ornament Designs for Holiday 2021
New Christmas Ornaments for Holiday 2021
Liberty Bell and Liberty Tree silver Christmas ornaments
Kaminer Haislip has two new Christmas ornament designs for Holiday 2021! Continuing her design style of the silver silhouette, a Liberty Tree and Liberty Bell have been added to her array of Christmas ornament offerings. Each ornament is hand pierced from sheet silver and the shape refined by filing and sanding. The slightly domed form gives it dimension and its smooth, shiny surface is perfect for personalizing with hand engraving.
The theme for this year’s ornament designs was inspired by the concept of gathering together, which relates to both the Liberty Tree and Liberty Bell. This Christmas we can celebrate the holidays together and enjoy the festivities of the season!
The first Liberty Tree was an old elm in Boston the Sons of Liberty would gather under prior to the Revolutionary War. As their message of resistance to the British taxes spread, so did the fame of their tree. Other colonies and cities adapted their own Liberty Trees, which were a variety of species, as a meeting spot and it became a Patriot symbol.
Liberty Tree silver Christmas ornament
This Liberty Tree design is a symbol of both assembling together freely and gathering with friends and family around the Christmas tree during the holidays.
The Liberty Bell dates to Philadelphia’s colonial era and was ordered in 1751 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of William Penn’s 1701 Charter of Privileges, which speaks of the rights and freedoms of individuals. It was hidden during the American Revolution and in 1787 was tolled to signify the ratification of the United States Constitution. Later it was adopted as a symbol of liberty by both the abolitionists and women suffragettes.
Liberty Bell silver Christmas ornament
The iconic Liberty Bell was the inspiration for this Christmas ornament design, because bells are rung to celebrate events and occasions. Christmas is a time for joy, merriment, and gathering. This year we can all ring a bell in celebration and enjoy being together during the holiday season!
Additionally, silver Christmas ornaments make a wonderful, heirloom gift that will be cherished for years to come. Many lovely memories are made around the holidays and giving lasting gifts is a great way to commemorate past years of happy, family gatherings.
Starting a baby or child on a collection of silver Christmas ornaments is an outstanding idea, because by the time they are adults with a Christmas tree of their own they will already have a stunning array of beautiful ornaments to adorn their tree. Many of Kaminer’s clients continue that tradition as they were gifted annually with a silver ornament and have a deep appreciation for the quality and sweet memories each one holds.
Both the Liberty Tree and Liberty Bell can be personalized with hand engraving, as can most of her silver Christmas ornaments. Shop the entire array of festive ornaments in her website store Christmas Ornaments category.
Silversmithing Film Online Zoom Event – May 26, 2021
Silversmithing Film Online Zoom Event with the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and Curator Brandy Culp
Join the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, curator Brandy Culp, and me Wednesday, May 26 at 6pm when we debut the silversmithing video we recently filmed in my studio! During this exclusive film produced for the museum, curator Brandy Culp and I will discuss the connection between my contemporary silversmithing and historic silversmithing. After the film screening, we will do a special Q&A session live.
Below is the Zoom link information. We hope to see you there!
Wadsworth Programs is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: DDAC Zoom Event with Silversmith Kaminer Haislip
Time: May 26, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 925 0811 2438
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South Carolina House of Representatives House Resolution
South Carolina House of Representatives House Resolution
Much to my surprise, I received a letter from South Carolina House Representatives Bart Blackwell and William Cogswell, Jr. notifying me of a House Resolution they and other members passed honoring my life’s work and recognition for my recent Daughters of the American Revolution award. It is such an incredible honor for my artwork to be highlighted and documented in the permanent South Carolina archives in this extremely special way!
Read more about the specifics of the DAR award and see detailed images of the silver necklace at https://www.kaminerhaislip.com/daughters-of-the-american-revolution-american-heritage-award-2/
I sincerely appreciate this esteemed acknowledgement of both my artwork and the special DAR award by the South Carolina House of Representatives. I look forward to thanking them in person when I meet them in Columbia at the House of Representatives Chamber. They invited me to see their ceremonial mace, that was made in 1756 by London master silversmith Magdalen Feline, which has been in continual use ever since. I am very excited about this wonderful honor and soon seeing such a significant historic silver object. Many thanks to the South Carolina House of Representatives!
Daughters of the American Revolution – American Heritage Award
Daughters of the American Revolution – American Heritage Award
Captain Joshua Hadley silver necklace by Kaminer Haislip
I am so incredibly proud to announce I have been honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution with a prestigious award for the annual American Heritage Competition. My sterling silver necklace Captain Joshua Hadley was awarded the American Heritage Award for Crafts, First Place in the Jewelry category! It is such an honor and privilege to receive this prominent award for my artwork. The theme this year was Rise, and Shine Your Light on Your Revolutionary War Patriot and Captain Joshua Hadley is my great-great-great-great-great grandfather and DAR Patriot.
Captain Joshua Hadley served in the 1st North Carolina Regiment, Continental Army from 1775 until 1787. My design for this necklace was informed by detailed research I did on his service in the Revolutionary War. The five units comprising the necklace were hand pierced from sterling silver sheet and formed utilizing traditional silversmithing techniques. Each charm has a specific meaning and they are outlined below.
Captains wore an epaulette on their right shoulder to signify rank, so when worn that charm is the upper right side. Captains also wore a white cockade on their hat to identify their status, so the radiating circular shape is my interpretation of the ribbon rosette. The surface designs on the epaulette and cockade were hand drawn onto the silver sheet and then etched with an acid technique to create the textured lines.
The center form is a Gorget, which traces its history back to medieval times when it was worn as a piece of armor around the neck to protect the throat. Over time the shape, size, and function changed and by the 17th century it became a symbol of rank among military officers of many countries. At this point it was suspended around the neck with a chain or ribbon and was purely decorative. Additionally, the white crescent shape on the blue South Carolina flag is thought to be partly inspired by the Gorget shape. Captain Joshua Hadley fought in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island in Charleston, SC on June 28, 1776. The flag played a prominent role in the battle that day and the Americans successfully defeated the British, which was a turning point in the war and led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Therefore, the Gorget also represents Charleston in this piece and where I live. On the back of the Gorget is hand engraved “Captain Joshua Hadley”.
Back of Gorget charm on necklace hand engraved
Joshua Hadley was an Original Member of the Society of the Cincinnati and an eagle is their insignia. The fourth charm represents his membership in the oldest patriotic organization in the United States. I used the Society of the Cincinnati eagle that is on his graver marker as inspiration for the design, which was etched with the same technique as described above.
Captain Joshua Hadley’s grave in Tennessee
The final charm is in the shape of North Carolina, which represents his home state during the war and his Regiment. On June 20, 1775 he joined other patriots to form an association of the Sons of Liberty at Liberty Point in what is now Fayetteville, NC. The document they signed that evening contained the statement “We stand ready to sacrifice our lives to secure her freedom”. A granite memorial later erected at the site to commemorate the event includes their names and that statement. Hand engraved on the front of the state is that phrase and the date is on the back.
Front of North Carolina silver charm with hand engraving
Back of North Carolina silver charm with hand engraving
Liberty Point in historic, downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina
Monument at Liberty Point in historic, downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina
Captain Joshua Hadley’s name on the monument
The theme of this year’s competition, Rise, and Shine Your Light on Your Revolutionary War Patriot, motivated me to dig deeper into my great-great-great-great-great grandfather’s military service in order to create an artwork representative of his patriotism. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and learning experience, which broadened my knowledge of the war and put my artwork on a new path. The United States of America has an extraordinary history that should be studied, celebrated, honored, protected, and passed on to future generations proudly. Hopefully through this silver necklace Captain Joshua Hadley’s contribution to the American Revolution as well as that part of our great country’s history shines.
I will receive the award formally at DAR Continental Congress in June and I am so excited to highlight my wonderful Charleston DAR Rebecca Motte Chapter during this special event! Rebecca Motte’s father Robert Brewton and grandfather Miles Brewton were two of the most accomplished and talented silversmiths of colonial Charleston. Hopefully I am representing our chapter namesake well!
Through both this award and my involvement in DAR, an exceptional national non-profit organization and genealogical society, I strive to honor my American Revolution patriot and family heritage. For more information on DAR and our dedication to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children please visit http://www.dar.org/.