Karen Bachman, "Venus Lives."

Materials: Carved ebony, sterling silver, 24K gold leaf, brass wire. Brass Wire

Dimensions: 3" H x 1.25" W x 1" D.

"The Venus brooch was conceptualized around the tradition of the Paleolithic Venus figurine, an object of worship in humankind’s original matriarchal society. She was hand carved in ebony wood, an extremely hard and exotic wood from Africa, often cited as the birthplace of humankind. She holds a sterling amphora, a symbol of fecundity, which sprouts plants. The base of the amphora is gilded and points to the figurine’s vagina, also gilded. The reverse of the brooch has the circle/cross symbol of woman on her upper back. She wears her feminine pride literally on her back. Today’s society has tried to put women back in time and is attempting to reverse our agency over our bodies, but our Earth goddess is having none of that. She knows better." - Karen Bachmann