Sub Rosa – brooch

“Sub rosa” is a Latin expression meaning secrecy, confidentiality.The rose is an ancient symbol of secret.This concept also appears in Dan Brown’s novel “The Da Vinci Code,” where it signified sacred femininity and “the great secret.”This secret was the love between Jesus and Mary Magdalene and the fact that she was supposed to be pregnant.According to the book’s author, da Vinci deliberately placed Mary Magdalene next to Jesus in the painting “The Last Supper”—discreetly depicting their love and the mystery of their great union.

The silver rose brooch alludes to this very secret of hidden love. At first glance, it appears to be merely a beautiful sculpture of a flower, drawing the eye toward the center, where rubies are placed. But these rubies are intended to distract from the true mystery—the secret love between one of the rose’s petals and one of its leaves, which are kissing.

The piece was showcased during the “Fairy tales written with silver” exhibition in the Distrcit Museum in Toruń, Poland (2023) and during GemGeneve in Geneva, Switzerland (2023).

Ruby 1.5mm (4pcs), 3.2mm (1pcs)

Dimensions: 10cm x 5cm

Weight: 45.3g

Silver 925