With Saint Valentine’s Day just around the corner, why not gift something unique to your special someone?
Inspired by Pictish swirl patterns found on various standing stones, this silver love heart pendant was designed by Nicholas here at Caledonian Forge. Available now on our website!
Inspired by Pictish swirl patterns found on various standing stones, this silver love heart pendant was designed by Nicholas here at Caledonian Forge. Available now on our website!
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Known as the Maeshowe Dragon, this is one of the most instantly recognisable symbols of Orkney around today.
Thought to have been carved in the 12th century, by one of the Norsemen who broke into Maeshowe - or Orkahaugr, as it was known to them - the dragon was cut into the stone wall at the same time as the mound-breakers inscribed the runes that cover the interior of the prehistoric cairn. Some of the more... sophisticated phrases carved in this tomb are:
“Thorni **. Helgi carved”
“Tholfir Kolbeinsson carved these runes high up”
“Ingigerth is the most beautiful of all women”
It genuinely is the kind of graffiti you’d see scribbled at bus stops and toilets here in Scotland nowadays.😂
The Maeshowe Dragon is a beautiful example of ancient vandalism which translates perfectly into jewellery, it’s like wearing a piece of history. Do you have any favourite historical carvings which you’d like to wear as jewellery? We’d love some new inspiration!
Thought to have been carved in the 12th century, by one of the Norsemen who broke into Maeshowe - or Orkahaugr, as it was known to them - the dragon was cut into the stone wall at the same time as the mound-breakers inscribed the runes that cover the interior of the prehistoric cairn. Some of the more... sophisticated phrases carved in this tomb are:
“Thorni **. Helgi carved”
“Tholfir Kolbeinsson carved these runes high up”
“Ingigerth is the most beautiful of all women”
It genuinely is the kind of graffiti you’d see scribbled at bus stops and toilets here in Scotland nowadays.😂
The Maeshowe Dragon is a beautiful example of ancient vandalism which translates perfectly into jewellery, it’s like wearing a piece of history. Do you have any favourite historical carvings which you’d like to wear as jewellery? We’d love some new inspiration!
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This is your last chance to get one of our Luckenbooth brooches before St Valentine’s Day if you’re in the UK!
The Luckenbooth brooch is a traditional Scottish love token, often given as a betrothal or wedding brooch. It might be worn by a mother as a charm and/or be pinned to a baby’s clothing to protect them from harm. It was known as a witch-brooch by people using it to save children from the evil eye. This particular design is based on a copper alloy find from Aden Park, Mintlaw.
We currently have 4 in sterling silver, 1 in gold plated bronze, and 2 in bronze. To get this dainty brooch in time, simply message us to reserve yours before purchase and we’ll post it tomorrow!
The Luckenbooth brooch is a traditional Scottish love token, often given as a betrothal or wedding brooch. It might be worn by a mother as a charm and/or be pinned to a baby’s clothing to protect them from harm. It was known as a witch-brooch by people using it to save children from the evil eye. This particular design is based on a copper alloy find from Aden Park, Mintlaw.
We currently have 4 in sterling silver, 1 in gold plated bronze, and 2 in bronze. To get this dainty brooch in time, simply message us to reserve yours before purchase and we’ll post it tomorrow!
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We’re starting a new series called #ForgeFridays where we’ll show you some new work and/or behind the scenes in the workshop. Starting off with this Aberlemno swirl pendant being cast in sterling silver with some explanation on what Nicholas is doing.
Can you understand much in the video without looking at the captions?😅
Can you understand much in the video without looking at the captions?😅
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Hello, Fausta here. As some of you may know, I am Lithuanian. Because of this, our kids get to enjoy both Scottish and Lithuanian traditions. Tomorrow Lithuania celebrates Užgavėnės, an ancient tradition where people dress up in scary costumes to scare away winter and eat lots of pancakes. After horrendous weather we've been having lately, it seems very appropriate to celebrate Užgavėnės this year.😅 We'll be making masks with the kids tonight and enjoying a pancake feast tomorrow with Lithuanian stories by the fire.
Do you have any traditions that you celebrate which may be considered unusual where you live?
Pictured are a bunch of pendants which felt appropriate for this celebration - spooky neeps, horse skulls, and wolf skulls. Also, it turns out that the horse skulls work very well as incense holders for non standard incense.👌
Do you have any traditions that you celebrate which may be considered unusual where you live?
Pictured are a bunch of pendants which felt appropriate for this celebration - spooky neeps, horse skulls, and wolf skulls. Also, it turns out that the horse skulls work very well as incense holders for non standard incense.👌
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This Dundurn Pictish ring has been quite popular in our shop lately! It’s based on an Early Medieval casting mould fragment for a Pictish clothes pin which was found in Dundurn hillfort, Perthshire. While we do make pins based on the mould, Nicholas realised that this design works really well as a ring too.
Which other historical jewellery do you think could be repurposed like this? Let us know in the comments!😊
Which other historical jewellery do you think could be repurposed like this? Let us know in the comments!😊
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Here we have a wee selection of our Insular brooches inspired by Pictish artefacts. Some of these brooches, such as the St Ninian’s Isle Dragon one, are quite large and must have been used to keep heavy cloaks in place. Nowadays, they can be centre pieces on a pretty scarf.😉 Which is your favourite? Personally I really like the smaller Loch Glashan brooch in the 5th photo.✨
The last two photos show the original artefacts at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The gorgeous wooden Birsay Box is handmade by @eindridewoodwork
The last two photos show the original artefacts at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The gorgeous wooden Birsay Box is handmade by @eindridewoodwork
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