Portals to the Brine

London Blue Topaz, Green Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire, Seashell, Sterling Silver

Appx. 2 1/2 in long x 1/2 in wide

Salacia Adorned is an expansion of Stephanie Schaub’s ongoing exploration of seashells and gemstones in adornment, advancing both in vision and technique. Building on 2024’s Venus Adorned, which celebrated the romantic and luminous aspects of the sea, this year’s collection looks deeper toward the vast, raw, and textural. Sterling silver is joined by reticulated silver, introducing organic surface patterns and granulation that echo the creatures and coral formations that thrive in the ocean’s depths. Foraged mollusk shells with natural perforations are elevated with gemstones and crystals, set within the forms to catch light unexpectedly, offering moments of hidden brilliance. The resulting works are polished yet elemental: some large, mismatched statement pieces, others restrained and minimal. Together, they evoke the goddess Salacia — embodiment of salt, depth, and oceanic mystery — and the evolution of adornment shaped by both natural forms and the hand of the maker.

Artist Bio:
Stephanie Schaub is a silversmith based in historic downtown Frederick, Maryland. She studied at Towson University graduating with a BS in 3D Object Design and in 2016 she opened her online jewelry business, The Dwelling Gem. Her wearable art captures the essence of whimsy, drawing inspiration from both earthly treasures and celestial wonders. Crafting from precious metals, stones, crystals, and found objects like seashells, Stephanie forges one-of-a-kind jewelry that exudes a captivating mystique, inviting wearers to adorn themselves with pieces that reflect both the beauty of this world and the allure of the beyond.