Not many realise that Arwen's pendant, also known as 'The Evenstar' or 'The Evenstar Pendant' has some history both in reality, and in Tolkien's world.
This white jewel in the shape of two entwining leaves and a star was made for the LotR movies by Jasmine Watson, and now today, we can see the replicas worn everywhere around the world.
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Here is a following interview with Jasmine, the woman who turned Arwen's jewel into reality.
Thanks to War of the Ring.net
WotR - Jasmine, which of the pieces did you design specifically for "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King"?
JW - Continuing on from film one is the jewellery of Galadriel, Arwen, the Elves, including The' Evenstar', the Elven brooches and much more. The jewellery to be seen in "The Two Towers" includes a crown, brooches and ornamental belt for Eowyn, a crown for King Theoden, a pendant made of serpents for Wormtongue and an Elven style cloak clasp and buckle for Gandalf the white.
WotR - Which pieces were created with specific cultures in mind for "The Two Towers"?
JW - For the Riders and the people of Rohan, we used a Celtic influence, predominantly with a horse motif, as it is such an important symbol to them. The belt buckle and cloak clasps for Gandalf the White have the Art Nouveau 'Elven' look, as does the rest of his new clothing, which in the story is crafted by the Elves following his rescue by Galadriel.
WotR - Which of the pieces you created for the films did you spend most time coming up with ideas for?
JW - I spent the most time designing the 'Evenstar'. It was such an important and complex piece, Arwen, being the Elf princess is the 'Evenstar' of her people, so as a pendant it symbolises her very being. It needed to be very delicate and beautiful, while also magical, clever and powerful as it was crafted by the Elves.
WotR - Is there any piece you are particularly proud of, or you would like to change having seen it on screen?
JW - My favourite piece is 'Nenya', Galadriel's Elven ring of power, but on screen it is Galadriel's gold and silver filigree crown that really stands out and has great visual impact. The crown, worn by Cate Blanchette, is featured in the publicity poster for film one, so may times i have seen it drive past me on the side of a large, red, London bus.
WotR - What will be your lasting memory from working on the trilogy?
JW - Lots of long days and late nights to get everything looking perfect, then something would break or need to be changed at the last minute.... a state of outwardly calm panic!
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History of the Evenstar Pendant in the LotR
Arwen Undomiel, Elven Princess of Imladris, known also to her people as Evenstar because of her unparalleled beauty, is destined to leave Middle-earth and sail to the Undying Lands of the West. While this fate looms before her, she falls in love with Aragorn, a mortal man, and is then faced with the heart-wrenching choice to leave Middle-earth with her people or forego her immortality for the man she loves. She gives her Evenstar pendant to Aragorn as a symbol of her undying love for him.
"It is mine to give to whom i will.....like my heart"
"It was a gift, keep it"
~ Quotes from Arwen in the movies FotR and TTT ~
In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, we see Arwen giving it to her future son, Eldarion, the future king of Gondor and the lands of men. We also see that the Evenstar pendant seems to be the connection between Arwen and Aragorn through the movies, and Aragorn feels as though he loses Arwen when he dreams of the pendant shattering. It turns into more than just a jewel and a gift, it becomes the symbol of love and hope.
In Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, he never desribes the pendant in depth, but it appears to be a white gem shaped like a star that she wore on her breast.
"And she took a white gem like a star that lay upon her breast hanging upon a silver chain, and set the chain about Frodo's neck. " When the memory of the fear and the darkness troubles you, this will bring you aid".
A gift i will give to you. For i am the daughter fo Elrond. I shall not go with him now when he departs to the Havens; for mine is the choice of Luthien, and as she so have chosen, both the sweet and the bitter. But in my stead you shall go, ringbearer, when the time comes, and if you then desire it. If your hurts grieve you still and the memory of your burden is heavy, then you may pass into the West, until all your wounds and weariness are healed. But wear this now in memory of Elfstone and Evenstar with whom your life has been woven!".
~ pages 952-953 of LotR ~
In Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, the jewel is said to be passed to Frodo, and was then taken across the sea when Frodo departs from Middle Earth to Valinor.
"Frodo and Sam however, went back to ordinary attire........and Mr. Frodo wore always a white jewel on a chain that he often would finger".
"On the thirteeth of that month Farmer Cotton found Frodo lying on his bed; he was clutching a white gem that hung on a chain about his neck and he seemed half in a dream".
~ pages 1001-1002 of LotR ~
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Was the Evenstar really shattered at the end of The Return of the King? As many think it is...it wasn't. Please click here to read and understand the misinterpretation: Shattering Evenstar
