01/01/2025
Three years ago I began a new tradition. In what would unknowingly be my family’s last holiday with our father and patriarch still here with us I set out on a mission to create something special for my parents. They made their forever home in 1965, my mother still lives there to this day. The home is old, simple and and housed no less than 11 children in these past decades. It’s a special place, in a special community and is very, very close to my heart.
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So, years ago I took an original key from the home from likely the 1930s and put it away, long before I ever worked with silver or cast a single piece of jewelry. In 2021 I finally did it. In the last image are the first pair I made, for my parents, gifted to them on Christmas. Honoring my father’s surname - VanDerZanden, and my mother’s maiden name - Unger - A set of Heritage keys cast using the original key from the home and customized for their family names.
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When I gave them to my parents I decided on the spot to make one VanDerZanden Heritage Key for each and every one of my 10 siblings. In 2024 I was able to complete numbers 5-7. I have three more to go to complete this years long mission and I can’t wait for next year to get them done.
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As I move forward into 2025 I plan to offer more meaningful pieces and experiences through my jewelry work. While I love the bulk of what I’ve been doing these last 6-7 years it’s time to focus more on one of a kind, bespoke pieces that evoke a sense of history, tradition and time. It’s been a lot of hard years and hard lessons along the way and I’m now ready to make this dream a reality. Thanks for being here everyone 🙏
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Hendrijk VanDerZanden - Oak And Fir
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