—The Heirophant—
She is the oracle, the interpreter of arcane principles and of the sacred mysteries.
This pendant is her Sigil, the orb set atop a white staff in vines.
In the head of the Heirophant’s staff sits the crystal ball she gazes into to consult the divine. Sculpted in the belly of a clam, this freshwater pearl connects her to the alchemical element Water. Her staff is encrusted with white topaz and a halo of tsavorite garnets around her pearl for protection. Fruit bearing vines surround her staff with lush amethyst grapes.
A portrait of the Oracle is engraved on the back holding a chalice.

This is the first piece of my new Arcane Series. The root inspiration for this series was traditional Scottish clan badges, a symbol of heraldry wrapped in a belt that signifies the deeds of values of it’s family. I took this symbol as my starting point for each piece, creating a representation for the societal role each piece represents. My fascination with modern fantasy and obsession with symbolism fueled my imagination. I began crafting a compilation of symbols borrowed from Ancient Greece, the Celtic Druids, Norse mythology, Arthurian legends, the Rider Waite tarot of the 1900s, and entirely fictional representations of my own making.
As for the actual construction of each piece, I set the goal for myself to step outside of my usual scrolling comfort zone and sculpt and/or engrave representational 3D objects; the human figure, gnarled wood grains, thistles, medieval weaponry, and other new hurdles. Each piece also included a stone setting challenge for me, to set a new shape or try a new style of setting I had never done before (outside of practice of course). Each of these pieces was 100% cut and sculpted from sterling silver sheet and wire, with no casting or computer related design help. Certainly this is far from the quickest method of bringing these pieces to life, but it gave me ample time to ponder each piece’s meaning and enjoy the slow process of creating.

Pendant measures: 71x19mm and includes a 24in sterling silver chain