Brief Summary…
- Recycled silver Victorian shillings
- Hand carved midrib and veins details
- Hand cut from the shilling with traditional jewellers piercing saw.
- Choice of seasons. Tree of life
- Free engraving of special initials on reverse
- Hairy Growler sterling silver earring wires
- Size : 22mm * 18mm
- Symbolism: connection, balance, life, legacy, strength, wisdom, passing of time, vibrance, creation
- Handcrafted & Recycled in Cambridge
- made with Love
A little more detail…
Tree of Life
Earrings Handcrafted from Recycled 120‑Year‑Old British Silver Shillings
Some silver has already lived a long life.
These Tree of Life earrings are handcrafted from recycled British silver shillings over 120 years old. Once handled daily as currency, the coins have softened with time — carrying quiet marks of use that are not erased, but honoured.
Rather than being melted down and reduced to raw metal, each shilling is carefully reworked by hand into a pair of earrings that hold both material history and new meaning.
The Silver
The starting point for each pair is an original late‑19th / early‑20th‑century British silver shilling.
These coins are no longer in circulation and are often destined for refineries. Here, they are treated as complete objects — too well made, too familiar, and too rich in character to be broken down.
The coin’s age remains present in the tone of the silver and the way it takes light.
The Tree of Life
From the centre of each shilling, a Tree of Life is cut by hand.
Roots curl downward, grounding the form, while branches reach outward and upward, filling the circular space with movement and balance. Leaves are individually shaped, creating lightness and depth within the solid silver.
Across many cultures, the Tree of Life speaks of continuity, growth, and connection — here expressed through a material that has already endured generations of use.
Hand Cut, Not Cast
Each earring is saw‑pierced by hand, following the natural rhythm of the design rather than a fixed template.
Small variations occur naturally between pairs — a subtle difference in leaf shape, branch line, or surface texture — making each set quietly individual.
The silver is finished to retain clarity while allowing the character of the original coin to remain visible.
Wear & Movement
Designed to be light and comfortable, the earrings move gently when worn.
As recycled silver, they will continue to develop patina over time. Highlights soften, shadows deepen, and the surface records wear rather than resisting it — adding to the sense that these are objects meant to be lived with.
Meaning & Wearing
These earrings are often chosen as everyday companions rather than occasional pieces.
They suit those drawn to natural symbolism, reclaimed materials, and jewellery that carries a quiet sense of continuity — rooted, but not static.
Silver with a Past
These Tree of Life earrings preserve the integrity of old silver rather than erasing it.
They carry forward material, memory, and meaning — allowing something once ordinary to become personal.
To explore more reclaimed silver jewellery and traditional making, visit Our Craft & Inspiration.
More tree jewellery here
Tracey Burgoyne –
tree of life earings
These are my favourite pair of earings that you make. They are intricate but simple at the same time I love them