The Inspiration Behind the Folkloric Salamander collection

1) 18th century Persian tile, with white snake rabbit and turtle with a special blue.
2) Fruit traditionally (watermelon) carved into hearts for the Persian celebration of Yalda.
3) Traditional folk Hungarian embroidery plan.
4) 18th century Pennsylvania Dutch (Amish) carved wooden heart springerle cake mold
5) 18th century Persian, Qajar Dynasty, two tiered enamel, gold polychrome enamel, + pearl earrings.
6) 14th century Mongolian/Kamiz Persian undershirt with gorgeous black embroidery and cream base
7) Traditional folk Hungarian Matyó dress and pom pom hat found in the northern part of Hungary.
8) Traditional Persian 3d/carved/embossed carpet, with little birds, flowers, foxes, goats and sheep.
9)  Traditional Islamic Decoration, with calligraphy that reads Allah.
10) Traditional folk Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexican hand carved silver milagros (miracles) surrounded by a red heart.

1) Traditional folk Hungarian Matyó pom pom headpiece hat found in the northern part of Hungary.
2) 1850s traditional German Scherenschnitte (scissor cuts) Love Token, with doves and hearts.
3) Traditional folk Hungarian embroidery plan.
4) Traditional Turkish coffee with 3d two tone cream clover
5) Traditional 19th century Pennsylvania (Amish) Scherenschnitte (scissor cuts) pastel valentine.
6) 1790s traditional French silk and linen bodice.
7) 19th century traditional Hungarian embroidered canvas top with large ecclesiastical sleeves.
8) 9th-7th century BC Assyrian gold earrings with lotus buds.
9) 19th century Pennsylvania (Amish) painted heart and monogrammed stencil heart shaped trinket box.
10) Medieval 1400s gold heart shaped brooch with sword clasp.
11) Traditional Ukrainian winter dress.
12) Traditional Indian wood block
13) Traditional Iroquois raised bead work on tan buckskin cuffs for men + women for dance.

1) Traditional folk Hungarian embroidery plan.

2) 1st century AD Parthian gold clover filagree earrings.

3) 19th century Qajar Persian, painted enamel and gold pendant.

4) 19th century Pennsylvania (Amish) Scherenschnitte (paper cuts) Symbolism was extremely important to the 19th c, one dove meant purity or peace, two doves symbolize a strong bond couple.

5) Traditional Yakut costume.

6) Portuguese, Oporto 1860s gold filigree heart pendant.

7) Traditional 20th century Hungarian Matyo Kalotszegi embroidered coat, found in the north.

8) 19th century Portuguese Palissy ware plaque by Jose A. Cunha with snake, lizard, frog, + insects.

9) Traditional Swiss 1827 young woman with floral stomacher and folded scarlet fichu.

10) 19th century traditional German Scherenschnitte (scissor cuts) Love knot.

As you can see, every country's traditional art and design has a very close relationship to nature, and unknowingly, to each other.  

Before designing my current collection I selected some favorites:

The idea of headwear or shawls as something even close to carpetish, credited to the Hungarian Matyó. The continuous usage of symmetry in silhouettes, I give credit to the German/American(Amish) paper cuts. The 3d embossed I paid close attention to the carved 3d animals on the Persian carpets, I have lusted over this picture for about 4 years now! 

Hopefully you have had as much fun as I have had going through each image, and knowing the history behind them.  If you have any further questions about them or have something to add, please let me know.