Behind the Scenes at Ben-Amun: Crystals for a Cause!

Isaac loves adornment. He loves beautiful things, and he loves art. The expression of these loves most often leaves his loyal fans and fashion aficionados with covetable collections of jewelry. Recently, however, Isaac was given the opportunity to put his creative energies towards a different project, and though the fruit of his labor was no less beautiful or distinct than his jewelry, the figure to be adorned was not a woman but a glass vase.

The project is called “The Goddess Adorned,” and has culminated in an online auction of one-of-a-kind vases (live now!) the proceeds of which will go entirely to Housing Works, a New York City based charity. The mission of Housing Works, as stated by the organization, “is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts.”

In support of Housing Works, Swarovski Elements and luxury interiors brand Gaia&Gino created “The Goddess Adorned,” the auction of limited edition vases designed by Harry Allen and then “dressed” by 15 different celebrities and designers. Those doing the dressing were given one of three versions of Harry Allen’s Gaia Vase to transform via an array of Swarovski Elements’ materials, and transform them they did.

The inspirations behind the one-of-a-kind vases produced were as varied and intriguing as the group of people behind their creation, however, being biased, we were most interested in the story behind Isaac’s vase, pictured below.

Upon seeing the Swarovski Elements that he would be using to embellish his vase, Isaac recalled a moment of awe he’d experienced years ago on a trip back to Egypt. He’d been at the Queen Nut tomb in Luxor, and looking up into the ceiling of the grotto, had been struck by the shade of lapis lazuli encapsulating the tomb. It was a beautiful departure from the reds and oranges that traditionally saturated these spaces, and it honored the “Queen of the Night” as Queen Nut was most often called. The special shade of midnight recalled a midsummer sky scattered with stars, and the Gaia Vase provided the perfect body on which to recreate it.

Isaac’s vase is on display at the Swarovski Crystallized Concept store at 499 Broadway in Soho, as are all of the “The Goddess Adorned” vases for the duration of the auction. However, it is looking for a new home! Not only is this the perfect opportunity to bring Isaac’s art from your wardrobe to your household décor, but 100% of the profit will go to Housing Works, so it’s also a wonderful way for you to support their cause!

Follow the link below to get a closer look at the vase and bid! The auction is open now and ends at 10 pm on December 20th!

Ben-Amun vase for "The Goddess Adorned"

Before you dash off to duke it out for this priceless piece of Ben-Amun art, we have one more piece of exciting news to share. On Tuesday evening Swarovski Elements and Gaia&Gino hosted an event to kick off the auction. In attendance were several of the project's participants, and we were particularly thrilled to see both New York socialite Tinsley Mortimer, and Dancing with the Stars Contestant Carson Kressley sporting their favorite Ben-Amun pieces! Check out the pictures below!