Breathtaking handcrafted bridal accessories by Clare Lloyd – the Aurelian Collection

Published by Claire Gould on January 24, 2022

We’re delighted to showcase this wonderful collection of bridal hair accessories and jewellery by the fabulously talented Clare Lloyd. Inspired by butterflies in the most exquisitely beautiful way, Clare’s Aurelian Collection combines fine handcrafted details with thoughtfully crafted botanical curves. A chemical free collection of handmade leaves and flowers, stems and buds from natural metals, glass and crystal, this is the one-of-a-kind accessory you’re likely to fall head over heels in love with. I always think of Clare’s handcrafted bridal pieces as heirlooms – they’re so beautifully made and wonderfully detailed.

https://www.clarelloyd.co.uk

“This collection was all about intricate botanical details and soft verdigris and metallic colours. I wanted these headpieces to look like floral illustrations weaving their way through your hair. The collection is named after ‘The Aurelian’ by Moses Harris which is a beautifully illustrated study of British moths and butterflies written in 1766 and each of my designs is named after a butterfly or moth.

I have made a collection of headpieces, hair pins and crowns that can be combined to create your own unique hair accessory with designs available in soft verdigris colours or in simple ivory and white tones.

This collection was the first complete collection where I really started to think carefully about the materials I used and where they came from.

I have never used any chemicals in my jewellery making work so I used salt and vinegar to create the verdigris effect on my raw brass leaves – time consuming and made the studio smell like a chip shop but no nasty chemicals used and some beautiful colours and effects achieved.

I also started to only use UK suppliers and a smaller range of materials with the exception of a lovely woman in America who presses some of the brass leaves used in this collection.

I started making my own headbands from copper stripped out of wire cables (my partner is an electrician so I get all my copper from his waste cable).

My Aurelian collection was really the turning point in me changing the way I worked and the materials I used.

The shoot took place at Hamswell House in Bath on the most perfect autumnal October day where the golden light was perfect and the views over the Bath countryside were beautiful.