A little more detail…

Recycled Irish 20p coin

Each one of these lovely Irish Sports horse twenty pence / Fiche pingin pieces is totally hand cut and recycled, green in more ways than one! Again these lovely coins make perfect equestrian lucky charms, pendants and key ring charms. Handcrafted and recycled in Cambridge, UK. Size : 27 mm diameter

The Irish horse embodies concepts of power, sovereignty, and the divine feminine, particularly through figures like the goddess Macha. It also symbolizes strength, nobility, and status, while in modern contexts and literature, it can represent the decline of Anglo-Irish culture and landed families.

In early Irish society, horses were deeply connected to kingship and divine power. The goddess Macha’s story links horses to feminine power, magic, and the ability to curse or bless.

The horse is linked to the divine feminine, reflecting a spiritual connection to the natural world. Horses often appear in myths as figures capable of magical transformation.

A good horse was seen as a reflection of a person’s strength, stamina, and character, often revered as highly as a chieftain. The horse was associated with the sun, possibly because it was imagined to pull the sun’s chariot across the sky. Horses can also be seen as symbols of the air, as horses of the wind or even winged horses in some traditions.

In the context of Anglo-Irish “Big House” literature, the horse became a potent metaphor for the economic and social decline of the land-owning class. The horse also represents the Anglo-Irish sporting lifestyle.

Through the ages of time flourish designs are representative of movement, transformation, and vitality, often representing the unseen energy behind growth, beauty, and creative expression. This allows me the perfect opportunity to compliment the lovely Irish hare coin with a design which aligns with the spirit of the animal and the coin.

As decorative elements, they transform simple lines into something rich and meaningful, evoking emotions and themes that words alone cannot always capture.

Inspired by flora, the flourishes mimic curling vines and unfurling leaves. These designs symbolize the natural world’s cycles of growth, renewal, and resilience, much like a relationship that grows and matures over time. The organic, flowing lines suggest a living, breathing energy.

Using deeply engraved Flourishes I am attempting to symbolize immortality, longevity, and the abundance of nature. The ancient and widespread use of these motifs connects humanity to the enduring, timeless power of the natural world.

The carved flourishes are a prime example of “emotion in motion”. The sweeping, dynamic curves and loops can convey a range of feelings, from playful and whimsical to elegant and serious.

The Irish horse is a source of national pride, and its legendary qualities are a part of the country’s ongoing cultural identity. In essence, the Irish horse is a multifaceted symbol, representing a rich tapestry of power, divine connection, cultural identity, and historical change in Irish poetry and folklore.