Cailleach - Blackthorn necklace in solid sterling silver

Two Blackthorn thorns crossed in protective warding, lifecast from the wild and made permanent in solid sterling silver.

Cailleach preserves every ridge, scar and thorn of the original Blackthorn in metal. Its crossed form rests against the skin, a small piece of armour with an unmistakably wild edge.

Named for the divine hag of winter and wilderness, it is a talisman of boundaries, endurance and the ancient strength in your bones. For the parts of you that have survived the cold. For the things you will not surrender.

Wear it as your armour

Wear this talisman when…

• You need to hold a boundary without apology.
• You are moving through an ending, change or transformation.
• You want to remember what you have already survived.
• You feel drawn to Blackthorn’s darker beauty and want a piece of the wild against your skin.
  

Details

• Size: approximately 47mm tall
• Weight: approximately 5 g
• Material: solid 925 sterling silver, never plated
• Finish: oxidised and hand-finished to emphasise the natural thorn texture
• Origin: lifecast from real Blackthorn thorns
• Chain: choose from sterling silver ball or belcher chain
• Made: by hand in Dorset, England
  

THE MYTH

Blackthorn has long carried a darker reputation in British and Irish folklore. A tree of boundaries, protection and hard-won endurance, it flowers before its leaves appear and bears its thorns through the coldest months of the year.

Cailleach takes its name from the divine hag associated with winter, wild places and the turning of the seasons. She belongs to the harsher side of the natural world, where survival demands patience, instinct and the knowledge of when to hold fast.

The crossed thorns form a simple protective ward. In Thorn & Claw, they become a reminder that some things are worth defending, and that there is strength in knowing what you will no longer allow.

Explore the folklore, symbolism and history of Blackthorn

From thorn to talisman

The original Blackthorn grows at the edge of my garden in Dorset, beneath the oaks where the cultivated ground begins to give way to the wild.

The original thorns were taken from the plant and carefully lifecast, preserving their exact natural form before being transformed into sterling silver.

The casting process captures the small irregularities that make the original thorns unique: their ridges, twists, scars and sharp organic lines.

Each Cailleach begins with something grown rather than drawn. A fragment of the natural world, made permanent in silver.

Crafting & shipping timescales

Each talisman is handmade to order and will usually be ready to ship within approximately 4–6 weeks. During especially busy periods, this may take a little longer.

If you need your piece for a particular date, you’re always welcome to get in touch. I’ll do everything I reasonably can to help.

• UK Standard — FREE: 2–3 working days
• Worldwide Standard — £10: approximately 7–20 working days
• Worldwide Express — £30: approximately 2–3 working days

Your order will be shipped via Royal Mail or one of our trusted couriers for express delivery. You’ll receive full tracking details as soon as your order is dispatched.

Get In Contact

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