Poppy Cross Earrings

This piece carries an ancient lineage. Across centuries, the poppy has served as a guardian of the subconscious. In the Late Bronze Age, the Minoan Poppy Goddess was revered as a bringer of sleep and healing, her image crowned with seed pods, like the ones captured in this silver. 

In Greek mythology, poppies lined the entrance to the cave of Hypnos (Sleep) and were the sacred flower of Morpheus, the shaper of dreams. 

By arranging these poppy head imprints into an even-sided cross, a symbol of universal balance, the design invokes harmony.

I captured the texture of the poppy seed pods in the silver, preserving the intricate, ribbed details of the original plant.

The resulting motifs are arranged to ensure the cross hangs with beautiful equilibrium, and the aesthetic is reminiscent of ancient pieces that have been found in Pictish and Celtic treasure hoards.

Drawing inspiration from the meticulously balanced metalwork of the late Iron Age, these earrings are a modern tribute to the craftsmanship found within ancient treasure hoards, such as the St Ninian’s Isle Treasure. The design focuses on the 'four-petal' geometric symmetry common in Pictish silver-gilt brooches, where motifs with various textures and patterns were arranged to achieve visual equilibrium. By merging these historical forms with the organic texture and symbolism of the poppy, the result is a piece that feels like a discovered artefact.