A little more detail…

Red Squirrel coin necklace – handmade and recycled little halfpenny coin

These are definitely tiny, sweet little charms / necklaces.  Each piece is carefully and considerately handcrafted from a very small UK half penny. This coin is no longer in circulation; 1985 was its last year of minting as it was impossible to buy anything with a ha’penny any more. It is only a tiny 17 mm diameter coin, and I have realised how much I miss these being in circulation! I used to buy sickly little ½ penny chewy sweets as a little fella, and working with these bring me back… It really is a beautiful little coin to work with, although quite challenging because of its size.

I think the disappearance of both the Red Squirrel and the wee half penny from our everyday lives are disheartening threads which I can connect together to create an honourable piece of tiny wearable art which serves as an item of beauty and thoughtful reminder of precious things in our lives.

The decline of the half penny was due to excessive money printing which caused inflation of prices. This rendered the lovely half penny worthless.  Similarly the decline of the native Red Squirrel was caused by the foolish introduction of the grey squirrel from America.  The grey squirrel eats green acorns before they mature, scoffing up the harvest before it’s ready like a bunch of wild uncouth savages.  The illustrious red squirrel has a rich history within our cultural soul worth celebrating. Unlike the more mundane associations of the grey squirrel in North America, the red squirrel has often been tied to the supernatural, mischief, preparation, and the soul’s journey.

Famously, in Scandinavian and Germanic traditions, the red squirrel—especially Ratatoskr (or Ratatosk) from Norse mythology—is the chattering squirrel who runs up and down Yggdrasil, the World Tree. The red squirrel was noticed as a link between worlds aiding in the flow of information.

They were praised for their work ethic. In medieval bestiaries they are noteworthy for their wise provision, foresight in hording ripe acorns, gathering and storing.

In Celtic folklore, the red squirrel is often a creature of the Otherworld—quick, elusive, and slightly mischievous. Seeing one was sometimes considered a sign that the veil between worlds was thin. In the highlands the association with fae realm meant that harming a red squirrel was not recommended.

A red squirrel barking aggressively or appearing unexpectedly was often interpreted as a warning of impending trouble, betrayal, or the arrival of strangers.

In some medieval Christian art and bestiaries, the red squirrel hiding nuts was used as a symbol of the soul storing good deeds for the afterlife, or even of Christ’s resurrection (gathering life for the future).

The red squirrel represents Energy, adaptability, preparation, playfulness, balance between work and joy, gathering resources (both physical and spiritual), and trusting divine timing.

These pendants are handmade to order and I take great care ensuring it will look fantastic and illustrious!