Clovers: Lisbon as the Inspiration behind the collection
Inspiration for a new collection or piece can come from anywhere. A detail on a vintage mirror, a family heirloom, or even an historic architectural detail.
As you know, our small atelier is in Lisbon.
Growing up here has been a pleasure and sometimes we don't even notice how lucky we are for being born in such an inspirational city, that feels like a village made up of cobblestone streets, where the trams are small like wardrobes on wheels, to pass through the narrow streets of the oldest quarters, full with churches, historic architecture, sprinkled with lots of cafes, quaint whitewashed houses with tile panels and wrought-iron balconies adorned with pots of flowers, drying laundry, and sun.
Oh the sun. Lisbon’s climate means that, with a bit of luck, we can be outdoors all year round.
A chic European hotspot, with it's sublime golden light, the defiantly old school way of doing things, the crumbling mansions, with hand painted fancy tiles and caved-in roofs, that inspire us each day. And pay attention to the sky: here it is two tones closer to indigo than the regular sky blue.
Tiles:
If you’ve ever visited or seen pictures of the gorgeous cities of Portugal, you’ve likely noticed the exquisitely painted tiles that adorn the buildings’ façades. These luminous and captivating embellishments are called "azulejos", and they are one of the most distinctive features of urban Portuguese architecture and design.
Coming from origins of a purely decorative function, the tiles have evolved into an art form of their own. Gracing the exterior as well as the interior of many buildings, they serve as both a functional and beautifying addition to each city’s landscape. And as they have been adapted and evolved there over the centuries, they’ve become one of the most iconic aspects of the country’s history, architecture, and culture.
One of the most inspiring shapes or patterns of these tiles (and of a lot of historical architecture details) are the four leaf clovers - also called quatrefoils - designs.
The four leaf clover symbol has existed for millennia, it is best known as an European architectural feature. Thousands of Gothic buildings feature quatrefoils at the top of an arch, edges of stained glass windows on stunning cathedrals as well as the famous Lisbon tiles. The four leaf clover has earned a reputation as a timeless symbol of elegance.
As a luxurious yet simple design, it’s easy to see why the quatrefoil shape quickly became popular.
The beauty of the quatrefoil shape is how versatile it is. It can simply be a nod towards timeless European elegance. Or, it can function as a subtle good luck charm, inspired by the four leaf clover.
No matter the meaning behind it, quatrefoil jewelry is a luxurious, yet subtle, decorative element that looks gorgeous with any outfit.
Inspired by this gorgeous intricate design, we took our own approach and designed simple, chic and clean jewelry pieces that you can wear with any Boutique Minimaliste piece and elevate any outfit.
It's important that all of our designs work together and deliver a cohesive collection, so we selected neutral colors and extremelly clean and elegant designs.
You can find the complete clover collection here.
One inspiration often creates another, it's what we love most about what we do. Now tell us, what inspires YOU?
