Zealandia offers several varieties of fossilized ivory bear jewelry; bears have meaningful totemic messages that resonate year-round and continue to call our attention. When it’s cold outside and the days are short, something deep within us longs to snuggle under a warm blanket and get a few more hours of sleep. We aren’t alone in these seasonal rhythms; bears are well-known to sleep in dens for months on end and emerge with the spring thaw. The days of deep sleep offer time to contemplate and reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going.  The polar bear, in particular, represents courage, purity of spirit, strength, and the solitude so often associated with the inner journey. [caption id="attachment_216" align="alignleft" width="300"] Shaman Bear - Mammoth Ivory Polar Bear Pin or Pendant, Handmade Silver[/caption] Our bear jewelry is carved from fossilized mammoth ivory, which is an ideal material because the white and creamy tones are a perfect match to the polar bear’s translucent coat. Wearing a piece of bear jewelry can help remind you to balance time for quiet meditation and time to be bold and protective.  

Bear Jewelry On a Mission

A polar bear’s habitat range is hundreds of miles, which is far greater than any other species of bear. Polar bears rely on sea ice platforms to hunt seals, and although polar bears are highly adaptive to seasonal changes in sea ice formation, global warming has caused such significant changes that polar bears have been added to the vulnerable species list. That means their population is decreasing, headed straight toward being classified as an endangered species. We are passionately aware of the threatened ecosystem in the Arctic and feel compelled to participate in the fundraising efforts of philanthropic groups. Every year Zealandia donates to various organizations including Environmental Defense Fund and Ocean Conservancy, among others. Ocean Conservancy shared a fun fact about polar bears: they can swim up to 6 miles per hour and Michael Phelps swims up to about 3.92 miles per hour. Amazing! [caption id="attachment_215" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Vanishing Ice Cap - Fossilized Mammoth Ivory and Mother of Pearl Necklace Pendant or Pin[/caption] Jenny travels annually to Alaska to spend time with the Katmai brown bears and much of our bear jewelry line is inspired by them. Polar bears are another important inspiration for our bear jewelry and Jenny is quite concerned about their shrinking habitat. 'Vanishing Ice Cap' is a necklace pin/pendant she designed with this growing concern in mind. The pin/pendant is a layered piece with sterling silver mountains and water in the background, mother of pearl representing the sea ice, and on top is a beautiful polar bear carved in fossilized mammoth ivory. It's a stunning piece to add to our bear jewelry collection, and the message it carries is a heartfelt reminder of the impact we can have on our planet. We all have the ability to change the world for the better; it’s up to each of us to realize our potential and summon the courage to participate. See our full collection of Bear Jewelry