This episode tackles the topic of jewelry that is emotionally, societal and culturally controversial. Can a piece of jewelry not just be inappropriate, but offensive and straight-up WRONG? In part two, we’re going to talk about some heavier topics of jewelry controversy like blackamoor jewelry, Native and Indigenous appropriation, and jewelry focused around victims of social injustice. 

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Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes & merchandise: https://www.patreon.com/teaandgemstonespodcast

Narration - Jennifer Sieverling 

Research & Writing - Jennifer Sieverling

Music - Joseph McDade & Audionautix 

---Stay Sparkly

Most jewelry does not trigger a debate. The vast majority of jewelry does not prompt visceral reactions. But most is not ‘all’, and there are absolutely some kinds of jewelry that immediately spark a sharing of opinions, or even a guttural expression of negativity. We're discussing: three categories of human teeth jewelry, breastmilk bling, blackamoor motifs, cultural appropriateness, amber baby necklaces and more. Get ready to have opinions... it's Part One of Controversial Jewelry.

Please leave a rating/review if you're enjoying the podcast! It makes a huge difference in the algorithm to help the show

Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes & merchandise: https://www.patreon.com/teaandgemstonespodcast

Narration - Jennifer Sieverling 

Research & Writing - Jennifer Sieverling

Music - Joseph McDade & Audionautix 

---Stay Sparkly

It's not time to leave opals behind just yet! We've got More Magnificent Opals. Specifically, the very best of the best. The biggest, the rarest, the most beautiful; come and meet the cast: the Olympic and Aurora Australis, a pair of Fire & Flame Queens, a Black Prince, a Red Emperor, and a very impressive Halley... This is the pinnacle, the ultimate opals. Like so many epic gemstones, they each have their own tangled history: robberies, suicide, touring the world, million dollar auctions, and... changing the prehistoric fossil records? Yes. All this and more, on More Magnificent Opals.

Please leave a rating/review if you're enjoying the podcast! It makes a huge difference in the algorithm to help the show

Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes & merchandise: https://www.patreon.com/teaandgemstonespodcast

Writer, Producer, Host - Jennifer Sieverling 

Music - Joseph McDade & Audionautix 

---Stay Sparkly

This is the long awaited, much requested opals episode! Learn about opal's very unique formation process, all the color possibilities, and quirky physical features. I also cast a critical eye on the origins of the "opals are bad luck" myth and follow some interesting threads of history. We discuss the struggles of obtaining opal... both from hazardous mines, and within laboratories.
And the realm of opals… it is not a small one. There are categories and designations and classifications, and types, it is a daunting new lexicon to be talking about opals. I hope to do these beloved gemstones justice and give them their full time in the spotlight. 

Please leave a rating/review if you're enjoying the podcast! It makes a huge difference in the algorithm to help the show

Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes & merchandise: https://www.patreon.com/teaandgemstonespodcast

Writer, Producer, Host - Jennifer Sieverling 

Music - Joseph McDade & Audionautix 

---Stay Sparkly

Silver has been second place to gold long enough.  This two part episode series hope to change that. Come on everyone! Let's walk through the history, the science, the cultural connections, how silver is intricately involved in so much of our everyday lives, an unsung hero of medicine, manufacturing, investing, the arts and yes… jewelry. 

Please leave a rating/review if you're enjoying the podcast! It makes a huge difference in the algorithm to help the show

Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes & merchandise: https://www.patreon.com/teaandgemstonespodcast

Narration - Jennifer Sieverling 

Research & Writing - Jennifer Sieverling

Music - Joseph McDade & Audionautix 

---Stay Sparkly

Silver has been second place to gold long enough.  This two part episode series hope to change that. Come on everyone! Let's walk through the history, the science, the cultural connections, how silver is intricately involved in so much of our everyday lives, an unsung hero of medicine, manufacturing, investing, the arts and yes… jewelry. 

Please leave a rating/review if you're enjoying the podcast! It makes a huge difference in the algorithm to help the show

Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes & merchandise: https://www.patreon.com/teaandgemstonespodcast

Narration - Jennifer Sieverling 

Research & Writing - Jennifer Sieverling

Music - Joseph McDade & Audionautix 

---Stay Sparkly

Can something "icky" become beautiful via a transformation into jewelry?
How has buggy adornment trended and changed throughout history? What significance did different cultures assign to insects? We discuss the not-so-simple artisan challenges of rendering complex little insect bodies in precious metals and gemstones, and how the quest to create intricate bug jewelry pushed jewelry manufacturing forward. People want jewelry motifs that channel characteristics and vibes they themselves want to personify.  So why do many people balk at the idea of adorning ourselves with bejeweled representations of insects? How are bugs represented in modern jewelry? We're talking all things, Bling Bugs.

 Please leave a rating/review if you're enjoying the podcast! It makes a huge difference in the algorithm to help the show

Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes & merchandise: https://www.patreon.com/teaandgemstonespodcast

Narration - Jennifer Sieverling 

Research & Writing - Jennifer Sieverling

Music - Joseph McDade & Audionautix

Stay Sparkly

Season Two Premiere! The very first episode of this show was "Across the Rainbow: Diamonds" and we talked about the ROY G BIV of diamond bling. It seems only fitting for season two to kick off with going 'beyond the rainbow'... yes, there are still MORE diamond colors! Let me introduce you to: black, fancy white, salt & pepper, brown and pink.

Please leave a rating/review if you're enjoying the podcast! It makes a huge difference in the algorithm to help the show

Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes & merchandise: https://www.patreon.com/teaandgemstonespodcast

Narration - Jennifer Sieverling 

Research & Writing - Jennifer Sieverling

Music - Joseph McDade 

---Stay Sparkly

Season one finale!!! Can jewelry protect us? Can jewelry bring luck or good fortune? From earliest recorded history, mankind has used jewelry and gemstones to try to influence fate or render protection from evil.  How has this concept shifted through history to modern times? Or... has it even really changed much at all? Let's dive into the world of the evil eye, four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, hamsas, and more! 

~ Please leave a rating/review if you're enjoying the podcast! It makes a huge difference in the algorithm to help the show~

Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes & merchandise: https://www.patreon.com/teaandgemstonespodcast

Bibliography
https://jennifersieverling.wixsite.com/teaandgemstones

Narration - Jennifer Sieverling 

Research & Writing - Jennifer Sieverling

Music - Joseph McDade & Audionautix

---Stay Sparkly 

It is not a foreign concept to wear a piece of jewelry to imbue you with comfort, strength and connection to a memory.  But for about four decades in the late 1800s, the absolute dominant style of jewelry was 'mourning jewelry.' I trace through the origins of ‘memento mori’ (a Latin phrase translating to ‘remember you must die') jewelry- from the Georgian motifs of gravediggers, skulls and coffins, to the soft sadness of the Victorian seed pearls, willows and urns... but in either time period human hair is involved.  We talk all manner of dark gemstones (jet! bogwood! onyx!) And debate the acceptability of leaving mourning ring stipends in your last Will & Testament.  It's the perfect mix of creepy and sentimental: it's mourning jewelry.

Please leave a rating and/or review; it's what allows the show to be discoverable in the algorithm. Thank you!!

Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes & merchandise: https://www.patreon.com/teaandgemstonespodcast

Bibliography
https://jennifersieverling.wixsite.com/teaandgemstones

Narration - Jennifer Sieverling 

Research & Writing - Jennifer Sieverling

Music - Joseph McDade & Audionautix

---Stay Sparkly