Brief Summary…

• Recycled silver Victorian shillings
• Hand carved and engraved details
• Hand cut from the shilling with traditional jewellers piercing saw.
• Free engraving of special initials on reverse
• Hairy Growler sterling silver earring wires
• Size :  16mm
• Symbolism: absurdity, irony, whimsy, cynicism, ambition!
• Handcrafted & Recycled in Cambridge
• made with Love

A little more detail…

Saturn & Apollo the flying pigs earrings – Recycled silver shilling coin

These fabulously cheeky flying pig earrings are the perfect gift, and have been recycled from an English sterling silver shilling. These coins are unwanted by coin collectors due to wear marks from being used to buy and sell over one hundred years ago.

Firstly, I draw the design freehand drawn onto the sterling silver coin. Then I drill several holes and cut the sections delicately away. I file, smooth and finally polish the edges. The end result is a lovely, original, recycled pendant with a captivating history.

The flying piggies have been individually hand cut from the silver shilling with a traditional hand tools and techniques. Each one of the coin pendants I create is different, unusual and unique. This makes each coin a separate little masterpiece.

Handcrafted & Recycled in Cambridge, UK. Size : Approx 16mm

The image of a flying pig, while inherently fantastical, carries a unique and multifaceted symbolism in poetry and art. It’s often used to represent ideas beyond the literal, playing on its inherent impossibility to create powerful and memorable imagery. The most common and direct association is with the phrase “when pigs fly,” which signifies something impossible or highly unlikely.This imagery is fantastic to highlight the absurdity of a situation, emphasize a character’s unwavering disbelief, or underscore the monumental nature of an event.

A flying pig can also be used to signify hope and the belief in the seemingly impossible, encouraging a pursuit of aspirations despite challenges. This resonates with the story of author John Steinbeck, who adopted the image of “Pigasus” as his personal symbol after being told he’d be an author “when pigs flew”. Steinbeck’s Pigasus symbol is wonderful you can find it here

The inherent whimsicality of a flying pig invites an embrace of imagination and the extraordinary. It serves as a reminder that within the realm of creativity, anything is possible.

We tend to use the flying pig idea sarcastically to mock overly optimistic expectations which makes them the perfect earrings to wear to your next board of governors meeting!