Rusty Raveled Renaissance

In olden days when knights of yore wore jeweled tokens of a lady's love, they were finely wrought and such a jewel was more than a treasure; the workmanship and intricacy made it absolutely magical.  And the parts were unique and rare.  See here:

I love the chain suspension and the totally unique and precious sensibility of the thing.  Such jewels began with, say, a rare baroque pearl or gem of a shape that inspired the composition.  They were fantastic, mythical and legendary.  A few left today have individual names, such as "The Canning Jewel."

So, I thought, can one evoke such a thing without gold and gold enameling?

Like, how about a smooshed up abandoned rusty bottle cap and a scrap of text from a scruffy old cigar box, some phony rhinestones and bits of this 'n that?  Not duplicate, mind you, but evoke.

So, here's my take on it, featuring the face of San Juan de Fuca from a very old scruffy cigar box label (cigars from Cuba with an import stamp, branded "Avengers"), steel wire, recycled torn sari ribbons from NorthcuttWilson, fellow Etsian (fair trade, from Nepal), dirty pearls from used up costume jewelry, rust, dust, and silky tatters:

I have made the neckpiece without a clasp, to be tied in the back with a bow, inspired by Schiaparelli's whimsical Circus pieces made in the 50s.  I like the look of a slender neck with a pendant hanging at the clavicle and a bow at the back, so fun and feminine.  And there's an almost infinite supply of rusty, smooshed old bottle caps out there.