“The soul & symbol of the Oak King”

Jenny wren cut coin – handmade and recycled Farthing coin necklace

The wren symbolised wisdom and divinity and was the soul and symbol of the Oak King.

In times before the enforced doctrine of ‘the state’ and ‘religion’ belief systems our ancestors in touch with the natural world and each other were what we now refer to as ‘Pagans’, which derives from the root ‘Pagus‘ and ‘Pagai’.  Terms used by the Romans for ‘pre-urban settlements of people’, people outside of the state control.

One of the many beautiful gems of knowledge that has been passed in folklore from word of mouth is something we all know instinctively when we see a Wren, that it is a king amongst birds.

Indeed, the wren has a king as its name in many European languages.

• In French, Reytelet;
• Welsh. dryw, king;  Druid;
• Dutch, Konije, little, king.”
•  Drui-en or Druid bird in Irish Gaelic

“He who shall hurt the little wren
Shall never be belov’d by men.” – William Blake

A farthing (derived from the Anglo-Saxon feorthing, a fourthling or fourth part) was a coin of England, Great Britain, and finally of the United Kingdom, worth one quarter of a penny, 1/960th of a pound sterling. Such coins were first minted in England in the 13th century, and continued to be used until 31 December 1960, when they ceased to be legal tender.

Most wrens are small and rather inconspicuous birds, except for their loud and often complex songs. Quite symbolic ! This lovely little coin looks even prettier when it has been hand cut, filed, hand carved with traditional flourish scrolls, polished. An old farthing coin given a fantastic new life as a pendant. A lovely, original pendant with a fantastic history and symbolism

Size : diameter 20 mm