The DeLaurentis Foundation is offering a beautiful pendant just in time for the holidays.
This pendant is a wonderful symbol of caring for our planet and for one another in the spirit of the Citizen of the World flight. Purchases of gifts from the DeLaurentis Foundation support its mission, including the historic pole-to-pole flight by Robert DeLaurentis in an effort to bring the world together as a much smaller and friendlier place.
This pendant was chosen for the symbolism and materials that reflect the spirit of the mission.
1. The Symbolism of Hands
“The hand has become symbolic of human sentiment. We bless and we salute by raising the hand in various ways. The gentle laying on of hands is at once a symbol of benediction and, as among certain religious sects, the means of curing the sick and of drawing out the evil spirits that reside within the body.
In legal practice, oaths are taken in court by the simultaneous use of both hands, right hand up and the left hand on the Bible. We close a bargain by shaking hands, we raise our hands in salutation, and a man takes a woman’s hand in marriage.
Many studies of the hand appear in the traditions of western art.
From schematic and conventional hand portraits, the artists of the fifteenth century began to draw anatomically correct hands, and, slowly but surely, the hand was seen as having a personality and a culture of its own. Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) devoted a lifetime to the study of anatomy, and in his studies of hands the lines, the curves, the veins, the wrinkles delineate the complexity of the human hand In another medium, the French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) deliberately used the hands to create unmatched works of art.
Man alone has a hand. He uses it as a tool, as a symbol, and as a weapon. A whole literature of legend, folklore, superstition, and myth has been built up around the human hand. As an organ of performance it serves as eyes for the blind, the mute talk with it, and it has become a symbol of salutation, supplication, and condemnation. The hand has played a part in the creative life of every known society, and it has come to be symbolic or representative of the whole person in art, in drama, and in dance.”
– The anthropology and social significance of the human hand, Ethel J. ALpenfels. D.Sc
2. Symbolism of the Globe
A globe has often been used to represent eternal life, because it has no beginning and no end. Of course, the globe also represents the oneness of our planet and the interconnectedness of everyone who lives on it.
There is an entire museum of globes in Vienna Austria.
Globe Museum of the Austrian National Library
3. Practical and Accessible Materials
Stainless steel is a well-known material used to make everything from cooking utensils to car parts. An alloy that mixes elements like chromium, titanium, and nickel, its silvery finish also makes it a popular commodity in jewelry design. Stainless steel mimics the look of fine, precious metal but is much more affordable and durable, making this an ideal piece of jewelry for everyday wear by the most practical and active recipient.
Recent books and magazines including The Atlantic, The Economist and the New Yorker have outlined in recent years how many people are reducing their “conspicuous consumption,” including wearing fine jewelry for reasons of status. Many people are opting for simpler jewelry and less expensive adornments that have less financial and more symbolic significance.
This is good news to those of us giving holiday gifts – we can give more and spend less!
A Wonderful Gift Idea
If you’re looking for gifts for the special women and girls in your life, this pendant is a wonderful choice. If you need several for a group or club, call the Foundation at 619-368-9410 for special pricing options.