Britt - fine art and design

Who is this fella sporting a delightfully curled moustache?

I’ve based the design on one of the most well-known pieces of Celtic art from Iron Age Europe: The Mšecké Žehrovice Head from Bohemia, Czech Republic.

A couple years ago, I saw a replica of this head in the museum of Bibracte, France.

And now I’ve caught him in bronze.

What do you see in this gemstone?

I see a shoreline with rocks, touched by the golden hour light. But it could also be a cloudy sky, or mountains or hills seen from above.

I’ve set this beautiful piece of landscape agate in Sterling silver, and left the back open - so that light can get through.

Wear it to take a little piece of nature with you. And let your imagination wander in the landscape.

If you could step into this scene, where would it take you?

This pendant will not be for everyone.

Why, you ask? Well, because it’s HEAVY 😅

It’s based on the Gallic Carnix, a Celtic trumpet that was used to intimidate enemies, found in France. The top of those trumpets had a boar’s head: wild boars are fearsome, dangerous animals and a favorite game animal of the Celts.

The boar is an emblem of fertility, fearlessness and strength, but also stubbornness, war and chaos. As the meat of the boar is prized, it’s also a symbol of hospitality.

I think the roughness and sheer weight of this design fit the tough animal it’s based on very well.

But, if this design is too heavy for you as a pendant, you can also set it on it’s neck as a small statue, for on an alter or as decoration in your home.

If you had to choose, would you wear this pendant to express your strength or keep it as a protective charm in your home?

Let’s talk about swords ⚔️

A few years ago, the famous ‘Nebra Sky Disc’ was in the Netherlands: the earliest known representation of our night sky. At the exhibition, incredibly beautiful swords (and reproductions) from the same era were also displayed: the Bronze Age. Since that moment, I have always wanted to create jewelry inspired by this motif.

The sword was invented during the Bronze Age. It is the symbol of the Bronze Age warrior and a beloved offering because weapons were so important at that time. Many Bronze Age swords have been found bent.
Archaeologists suspect that this was done to ritually ‘unalive’ the object before it was offered.

What do you think the act of ritualistically ‘unaliving’ an object symbolises?

Castlefest 2024 was INSANE!! 🤯🥰

Thank you to all the wonderful people that stopped by, bought my work, the other vendors, friends old and new, the organisation and volunteers… ❤️ My heart is full and my head and body are freakin’ tired 😂

Until next year!

All packed and ready for Castlefest! 🥳
Today I’m building up my stall, you can find me at the Woodland Village this weekend! This is the part of the terrain that already opens on Thursday, right by the entrance. The weather is gonna be awesome, and I’m bringing loads of new jewelry designs.

Will I see you there? ☀️

Ready for Imaginarium day 1! ☀️
Will I see you this weekend?

Public service announcement! 📣

Your friendly neighbourhood smithing goblin is now very busy preparing for, and will be just as busy vending her shiny wares on, two events in June. So from today (May 26th), until probably the end of June or beginning of July, my webshop will be temporarily closed.

If you’ve had your heart set on anything in my shop, and won’t be visiting Zomerfolk or Imaginarium next month, don’t hesitate to send me a message!

If you’re into historically inspired jewelry, these designs are for you!

�Finally, spring is here. And so is my new Spring Collection! A collection of Sterling Silver pieces, inspired by Celtic, Scandinavian, and Nordic historical artifacts spanning from the Bronze Age, to the Iron Age and even to 19th Century European Romanticism.

While I typically gravitate towards larger statement necklaces, there are days when I prefer something subtle and lightweight. Especially on days when I opt for more relaxed clothing, heavy jewelry can feel overwhelming. So for these moments, I've created a selection of smaller, lighter and more subtle pendants.
But of course, no collection of mine is complete without a few showstoppers: big eye-catching pendants that demand attention.

All pieces are hand-cast in solid Sterling Silver, using the sand-casting technique. This collection marks a significant milestone as it's the first time I've produced pendants without relying on external precious metal casting services. Every item is cast in the comfort of my own home, by my own hands: a truly fulfilling experience, I must admit.

Available now! Go on… get them!
https://www.brittfineartdesign.nl/shop/

Calling all Scotland enthousiasts! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Want to see my favorite necklace of my spring collection? It’s a Pictish Crescent with a V-rod. These symbols appear often on the Pictish stones. The Picts were an ancient people who inhabited what is now modern-day Scotland during the late Iron Age and Early Medieval Period.

Due to our crazy want-to-see-all-the-things-and-all-the-places travel itinerary when we visited Scotland two years ago, I sadly didn’t see one of these symbols in real life yet. But I’ve lost a piece of my heart to Scotland, so I’ll definitely come back. Sooner better than later… 😉

Now onto what this mysterious symbol means. The crescent is thought to symbolize the moon/sun. The whole symbol could also be some sort of sun dial. The V-rod is thought to be a bent or broken arrow. But what it really means, remains a mystery.

How would you interpret it?

This necklace will be available as a pre-release this Saturday April 20th for mailinglist members (send me a PM for sign-up). Public release is on Tuesday April 23rd.

Fascinated by ancient cultures? Ever heard of La Tène?

These pendants are al based on the Celtic La Tène style. Together with the style of the Picts from what is now Scotland, it’s my favourite style in Celtic art.

So what is La Tène? La Tène was an Iron Age Celtic culture spread across much of northern and western Europe from 450 BC until the Roman conquest. It takes its name from a site near Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland, where the first artifacts typical of La Tène were discovered in the late 19th century.

This culture is best known for its distinctive style of Celtic art, marked by intricate, curvy designs, particularly in metalwork.
La Tène art appeared on numerous items, including gold and silver jewelry, swords, scabbards, enamel-inlaid shields, bronze mirrors, and ornate wood and ceramic containers.

What about you? Do you have a favorite piece of Celtic art?

These pieces will be available as a pre-release this Saturday April 20th. Public release is on Tuesday April 23rd.

Fun fact: I don’t even like boats…

Well, that's not entirely true. I appreciate them and I love the sea, but unfortunately, my stomach doesn't share the sentiment. I tend to experience motion sickness rather swiftly. Even on the relatively stable ferries to the Dutch Wadden Islands (where the waters of the Wadden Sea are typically calm), I can feel queasy unless I'm gazing out the window or basking on the sundeck with the wind on my face. However, I remain cautiously optimistic. Thanks to motion sickness pills, I managed to endure a boat trip to and from Newcastle quite well a couple of years ago when we went on a trip to Scotland. Perhaps, one day, I'll overcome this and develop my sea legs.

Ship motifs are common in Scandinavian Bronze Age discoveries, appearing in rock art, bronze artifacts, and monuments. Despite regional differences, the common use of ship symbols goes beyond mere representation, carrying deep symbolic meaning.

During the Bronze Age, maritime trade was indispensable for procuring copper and tin necessary for bronze production. Consequently, boats became emblematic of political power and the ability to access bronze resources.

In Bronze Age rock carvings, ships often bear sun wheels, symbolizing not only the daily cycle of the sun but also a cosmological connection to its annual renewal. And so does the ship in this pendant I’ve based on a petroglyph found in Madsebakke, Bornholm, Denmark.

“Do you also sell jewelry with the Viking compass?” 👀

A question I get asked A LOT, particularly on events and festivals. Sometimes, I simply respond with a polite "No, sorry, not at this moment." But usually, I take the opportunity to explain: "Are you referring to the vegvísir? I don't currently have anything with that design, and.. just to clarify, it's not a symbol from the Viking age."

The vegvísir, which translates to "wayfinder" in Icelandic, is a magical stave originating from Iceland. Its purpose is to aid travelers in navigating rough weather conditions. The earliest known mention of the vegvísir appears in the Huld Manuscript, written by Geir Vigfusson in 1860. While 1860 seems like a long time ago, it's important to note that it’s a lot later than the Viking Age, which spanned roughly from 793 to 1066.
The 19th century in Europe was marked by a surge in national romanticism, leading to what is often termed the "Viking revival." This period witnessed a renewed interest in Norse history and mythology across the Nordic region, as well as in Germany, the UK, and the US. Consequently, the vegvísir may have gained prominence as part of this cultural resurgence. Much like horned helmets or the popular Vikings TV show, the vegvísir holds aesthetic appeal but is not directly linked to Viking culture.

I do find the vegvísir's beauty and meaning captivating. That's why I've created a small necklace featuring its design—magical, even if not of Viking origin.

Curious about dragon motives from the Viking Age?

The Vikings recognized the dragon's significance, depicting it on buildings, runestones, and in fine jewelry.

The dragon, or serpent, symbolises strength and bravery, making it a powerful emblem to wear. It also served as protection against other creatures, explaining its widespread use on ships and everyday objects, and why it persisted to be used even in the early Christian period in Scandinavia.

This completely handmade, solid silver pendant will be available next month!

Now and then I get to do some design work for Rapalje Celtic Folk Music, this time I've made a flyer for their theatre tour "Breaking Borders". Get your tickets for this tour before they sell out! 😁

Can you still see the stars in your hometown’s night sky? ✨

I grew up in a small town, but in the most densely populated area in the centre of the Netherlands: the “Randstad”. So on a clear night, I could see some stars, maybe even see a falling star. But with so much big cities in the area, there’s also a ton of light pollution. Now I live in a city in the north, and still it’s never really dark enough to actually see all the stars. But the North Star, the northern polar star “Polaris” is always visible if, it’s not cloudy of course.

I never knew this, but Polaris actually is a triple star system which looks like only one star to the naked eye. You can use the star(cluster) to get your bearings: the position of the star lies less than 1° away from the north celestial pole. For someone like me, that has the directional sense of a cauliflower, its a comforting thought to know that if I would get really, really lost, I would at least be able to find the North.

In ancient times, Polaris was not yet the closest naked-eye star to the celestial pole. Instead, the entire constellation of Ursa Minor (also known as the Little Bear or Little Dipper) served as a navigation guide, rather than any single star. Polaris gradually approached the pole, eventually becoming the nearest naked-eye star during the early medieval period, although still at a distance of several degrees. Since then, various names referring to this characteristic as the “polar star” have been used.

Many cultures have assigned names and meanings to Polaris. For example, in Norse mythology, the Little Dipper is called “Kvennavagn,” meaning “woman’s chariot,” while the Big Dipper is known as “Karlvagn,” meaning “man’s chariot.” This association suggests that Thor might represent the man and Freya the woman, both depicted as traveling by chariots in Norse myths.

These silver pendants symbolize the Northern Polar star Polaris. A bright star cluster of three to help you find your bearings. Order now and let the North Star light your way ✨

Silver winter collection is live!

This small collection of one-of-a-kind pendants is inspired by nordic motives, snowflakes, the stars, the magic in the small things around you, and winter itself.

There's something truly captivating about the frost-kissed landscapes and the quiet beauty of snowfall. Imagine capturing that ethereal charm with a unique silver piece of jewelry – a shimmering reflection of the season's grace. Silver, with its cool shine, beautifully mirrors the winter landscape, creating a connection between nature's wonders and yourself.

Each pendant is made as a one-of-a-kind design: there is only ONE of each. Carefully carved out of wax, casted in Sterling 925 silver and then meticulously filed, sanded, polished and aged. So if you order one of these pendants you’ll have a truly unique piece of wearable art.

I hope you’ll love this small, winter themed collection as much as I do!

I need your help with something… 👀

There’s only one day left to vote for the CeltCast Fantasy Awards 2023, and if you’ve missed it: I’m nominated in the category of “Best Stand”.

I know there’s a ton of awesome stands on the longlist, so there’s a lot of goodness to choose from. But if you want to help me reach the top five in the shortlist, you can cast your vote here, before midnight on this Saturday (January 20th):
https://fantasy-awards.com/vote

-awards

I’m nominated for the Fantasy Awards in the category “Best Stand”! 🥳

These Fantasy Awards, organised by CeltCast, are well known in the Fantasy, Viking, Nordic, Pagan, Pirate, Celtic and (Bal)folk scene, and I’m very excited to have made it to the longlist!

You can nominate your favourites for the eight public categories in the longlist before midnight, January 20th.
It would mean a lot to me if you would consider voting for my creative business, Britt - fine art and design, in the category “Best Stand”. Maybe I can even reach the top five shortlist!
You can cast your vote here: https://fantasy-awards.com/vote

-awards

As a kid, I hardly ever read comics. I always identified more as a 'book-kid' than a 'comic-kid.'

However, there was one comic series that truly captured my heart – the French masterpiece, "Asterix," created by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny. Some of the comics were even adapted into animated movies.

Transported to the year 50 BC, the narratives unfold in a Gaulish village nestled in the Armorica region (Brittany), now part of France. This particular village, defying the might of the Romans under Julius Caesar, becomes a symbol of resistance, fortified by a magical potion that endows its inhabitants with incredible strength and invincibility. The Gauls, particularly the central character Asterix, prove to be a constant thorn in the side of Julius Caesar, wreaking havoc on the Roman forces.

Asterix, despite his small stature, emerges as one of the cleverest Gauls, frequently embarking on adventures throughout the Roman Empire alongside his companion Obelix. Another vital character is Panoramix, the Druid responsible for brewing the magical potion. Known for his wisdom, Panoramix remains the only villager refraining from swearing and fighting. Yet, his character isn't dull – he appreciates a good joke and supports the villagers in their clashes with the Romans.

Perhaps, in my childhood, a seed was planted through these stories, blossoming into my profound interest in Celtic cultures, like the Gauls. I've explored exhibitions showcasing Gaulic tribes in France, delved into their lifestyles, and, inevitably, channeled my passion into creating art inspired by Celtic cultures.

I’ve made this sterling silver pendant as a tribute to the revered Druid Panoramix, as well as to all other Druids from both ancient and contemporary times.

Who else can trace their interests back to childhood reads?

Happy Holidays! ❄️✨

Sawing bronze, silver and apparently my fingers this weekend👌🏼

I’ve made a nice start with finishing up these silver and bronze castings, so a lot of sawing, filing, soldering and polishing was done.

Oh and yes, one of the castings failed (it has a big hole in it), the saw blade slit right into my finger again, and I’ve cracked the stone you see in the picture while setting it. There always has to be balance between succes and failure, right? 😂 I’m debating now if I’ll finish the setting and sell the pendant with a very big discount, or if I’ll cut the stone out and melt the whole damn thing down to something else.

Looking forward to having a couple days off between Christmas and New Year eve / day! Are your holidays packed with activities (or even work), or are you taking some time off slowing down as well?

Celebrating my first at-home sand castings! 🥳

It took me quite some time to figure out my set-up, but today I took my Smith Little Torch for a spin for the first time and casted a couple things in silver. I’m using an oxygen concentrator instead of bottles of oxygen, to save up on money in the long run. But because of that, I needed some couplings to hook everything up. Finding the right ones was a challenge for some reason 😅
And then finding the time ánd guts to set everything up was another challenge. I got a bit intimidated by the whole thing: making sure that everything was safely installed.

But today I finally did it, and damn.. That first casting was an adrenaline rush! Everything works perfectly and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve got so much more possibilities with this method, and I can take a lot more of my production in my own hands; my mind is already spinning with inspiration!

Many creative people express themselves through what they wear in a way that reflects their passions. If you're like me, these include cultural history, visual arts, equal rights, and the preservation of nature. In a mass-produced society not all people are treated equally, and many of the goods we have available reverberate that by only paying attention to profit margins. As my very own little defiance of this way of life, I've set out to create wearable pieces of art that are made with all my passions in mind. Think of them as tiny artifacts modeled after the past, full of stories and inspired by historical styles and peoples like the Celts, Vikings, the Bronze Age and Art Nouveau. But also as future heirlooms that allow you to have something that reconnects you with the things you love and fight for in your daily life.

Castlefest 2022 was AMAZING!! Thank you to everyone who stopped by for a chat, to the many people that went home with a piece of my work, the wonderful Vana organisation and volunteers, my friend Emmy who helped me the whole weekend together with her partner, my lovely neighbours, my carpool buddy. It were loooong, dusty days and I’m still exhausted, but it felt so good to finally be home again ❤️