February 4, 2019: Luxury jewelry brand from London, Ortaea, has launched the Imperium Collection which will be available at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge. But what makes it such as special collection is the brand’s collaboration with HH Rostislav Romanoff.
Founder and designer Mita Vohra was seeking to work on a collaborative creative process and in 2016 she was introduced to the artist HH Rostislav Romanoff, one of the last surviving members of the Russian Royal family.
As a Russian artist specialising in landscapes, birch trees have long intrigued Mr. Romanoff. Through his art, Mr. Romanoff was seeking to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Nicholas II and in Autumn 2017, he journeyed to Russia on the Trans Siberian Express documenting his trip and the cycle of the birch trees. Ms. Vohra, consequently, re-created his impressions in the form of fine jewellery.
In Russian culture, the birch tree has a very special place. ‘Bereza’, the birch tree is a symbol of spring, light and purity. The Russians believe that the birch and birch bark are considered talismans against evil forces. Ortaea’s collection, therefore, reflects the birch trees in different seasons and also at different times of day.
The pieces themselves are works of art. The texturing of the jewelry pieces starts with a hand made wax mould. The texturing and form was crafted by artisans before casting and then refined by hand. The birch texturing is closely based on the manner in which the layers of the tree peel as they shed their bark.
The collection includes earrings and rings each crafted in 18kt gold. Four of the designs are produced in two variations of rose gold with white and champagne diamonds and with black gold, white diamonds and ruby. The piece de resistance is a signature piece – a sone-off cuff bangle crafted from black, rose and white gold combined with rubies and white and coloured diamonds which will launch next month. The inspiration for this piece was Mr. Romanoff’s final series of paintings for the collection which he filled with shapes and secret messages.
The Imperium Collection is available exclusively at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge and internationally at the websites of Ortaea and Mr. Romanoff.