Brief Summary…

• Recycled sterling silver Sixpence coin circa 1900
• Meticulously hand cut, carved and engraved
• Made using only traditional hand tools and techniques
• Optional free engraved details on reverse
• Option of Stonehenge or Glastonbury Tor
• Optional Chain: Sterling Silver. Recommend : Flourish / Omnia
• Hairy Growler Shepherd’s Crook Necklace Catch: Sterling Silver
• Size : 19mm diameter
• Symbolism : ancestral connections, cycled of nature, life and death, legend and culture
• Handcrafted & Recycled in Cambridge

A little more detail…

Recycled silver sixpence coin Solstice necklace

I hand-make this beautiful little Solstice pendant an 100 year old silver sixpence coin. Using a marker pen, I drop a quick Solstice sketch onto the surface of the lucky sixpence. I then meticulously carve away the design with a traditional hand chisels and cut details using a traditional jewellers saw. Once I cut the details, I give the pendant an extremely bright polishing which really brings the coin to life.

The coins I use are marred from wear marks from being used to buy and sell over one hundred years ago. Rather than let them simply be melted down for the silver content, I absolutely love coming up with designs and ideas. Then, I can transform them into a little Solstice. By doing this I retain the historical details, simultaneously adding depth, interest and intrigue to the design.

I have individually hand-cut, carved and engraved the solstice from the silver sixpence with a traditional jewellers hand tools. As I hand-cut each coin individually to order, every one is completely unique and unusual. They look and feel special. If you liked this little Solstice, why not have a look at a little Winter Solstice to match?

The Hairy Growler solstice at Stonehenge is profoundly rooted in the idea of ancient alignment of the megaliths with the sun’s annual cycle. It embodies feelings of time, renewal, the triumph of light, and a deep, enduring connection between humanity and the cosmos.

The builders of Stonehenge inscribed their understanding of time into the landscape. The alignment of the stones with both the summer solstice sunrise and the winter solstice sunset shows a sophisticated understanding of celestial movements. This represents a powerful connection to the rhythm of the seasons.

The Latin root of the word solstice means “sun standing still”. The monument marks this cosmic pause—the moment of both maximum light (summer) and minimum light (winter). This represents a pivotal turning point, the peak of one force giving way to the other, creating a perpetual poetic balance between opposing energies.

The solstice alignment, and the procession routes leading to Stonehenge and nearby sites like Durrington Walls, symbolize the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The journey of the sun mirrors the life cycle of humans, with summer representing vitality and growth, and winter symbolizing death and rest before new life emerges again.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. This is a time of longing for the sun’s return. The specific alignment of Stonehenge with the winter sunset suggests it was an important celebration of the sun’s “rebirth” and the promise of longer days.

At the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone and its first rays enter the heart of the stone circle. This shows the apex of power, warmth, and life. It feels like the height of the natural world’s abundance and vitality. The celebrations at midsummer represent a joyous embracing of light and the fullness of being.

The precise engineering that allows the sun’s light to penetrate the monument creates a stunning visual spectacle. This effect is like a sacred portal, a moment where the divine energy of the sun is brought down to earth and into the sacred space of the stone circle.

The solstice at Stonehenge has always been a time for people to gather and connect. Ancient feasts at nearby settlements suggest people traveled great distances to participate in these ceremonial gatherings. The modern-day pilgrimage of Druids, Pagans, and spiritual seekers continues this tradition of communal connection and celebration.

Stonehenge’s ancient purpose may have been related to the dead, with cremated human remains found buried at the site. The alignment with the solstices could symbolize honoring the ancestors at these sacred moments in the cosmic cycle, uniting the past and present.

For centuries, Stonehenge has inspired awe and speculation. The enduring mystery of its construction and original purpose adds a poetic layer to its symbolism. It stands as a testament to the persistent human desire to understand our place in the cosmos and to find meaning in the cycles of the world around us.

The Hairy Growler solstice at Glastonbury Tor is a silver coin tapestry woven from layers of myth, spirituality, and natural cycles. Unlike the solar alignment of Stonehenge, Glastonbury Tor’s symbolism is deeply personal and integrative, bringing together themes of mythic gateways, ley lines, personal transformation, and the merging of ancient and modern traditions.

Glastonbury Tor is a meeting point for two major ley lines, powerful channels of Earth energy. The Michael Line is seen as a source of masculine, electric energy, while the Mary Line represents feminine, magnetic energy. The solstice at the Tor symbolizes the harmonious balancing and union of these complementary forces, both within the landscape and within the self.

The legend holds that the Holy Grail was buried near the Tor by Joseph of Arimathea and that the hill is the Isle of Avalon, King Arthur’s final resting place. Celebrating the solstice at the Tor can evoke themes of mystical quests, healing, and the enduring power of myth in a spiritual landscape.

For centuries, people have made the pilgrimage to the top of the Tor. For modern Druids, pagans, and spiritual seekers, the solstice marks a point of communal celebration with fires, drumming, and singing. The ascent of the Tor becomes a personal journey of reflection and intention-setting, mirroring the annual renewal of nature.

The solstice at Glastonbury Tor silver pendant celebrates the shared spiritual experience rather than the suns alignment. Representing a time for reflection, gratitude for what has been achieved, and hope for what is to come. It is about people gathering to connect with nature, community, and the spiritual energy of the land.

The annual solstice tradition at the Tor embodies the ongoing human connection to nature and the honoring of seasonal cycles. The rituals and reverence for the site reflected in the piece with a deep appreciation for the landscape and the forces of the Earth that sustain life.

Handcrafted & Recycled in Cambridge, UK.

Size : Approx 19 mm diameter

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