I remember one of the deepest influences on my ideas and work was a visit as a young man to the Tower of London: not just the Crown Jewels, but the Armoury House. I cannot remember the particular armourer’s name; but he made a lot of the pieces in there. He was one of the highest paid craftsmen of his day, mainly because he took the flimsier mild steel (which was penetrable by spears and arrows), and hardened and tempered it by heating it at different temperatures and therefore making it more resistant to weaponry. I remember seeing some of the craftsmanship in his old swords too. With this in mind, and dedicated to that long reach of craft skills stretching back, I decided to make a symbolic homage to those armourers with this sword pendant. The body is made of sterling silver, on laid with gold settings and details, set with a pigeon-blood, translucent red ruby. Price: £350.
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