Along with the powerful attributes of abundance, prosperity and virility, the stag is known for its untamable nature. Take a leap on the wild side with the Stag Brooch!
Design Details
The Stag Brooch is a large brooch with an outer diameter of just over 2.5” (65 mm), and features an extra sturdy, hand forged pin. It is available in both bronze and sterling silver.
Historical Inspiration
Deer, which are indigenous to every continent except Antarctica and Australia, frequently appear in art and stories from cross the ancient world, and are one of the very first animals depicted by man. Before agriculture or animal husbandry, venison was a staple food. Early hunters would paint deer on the walls of caves, or carve then in antler or bone in hopes of invoking a successful hunt.
In Celtic mythology, deer were often thought to magical creatures. Sometimes they were shape-shifting heroes or villains who could take the from of a stag or fawn. Other times, a deer might appear to lead a hero to an entrance to the Otherworld (which is the origin of the white stag in C. S. Lewis’ book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
Stag antlers also have symbolic meaning. They can symbolise rebirth and reincarnation because of their ability to be shed and regrown each year. The way in which antlers are rooted in the skull and reach into the sky evokes a connection between earthly concerns and the divine. There is Mesopotamian legend that describes a great stag who crosses the sky every day, bearing the sun on its antlers. Similarly, there is a Celtic myth that tells the story of the Horned God of the Hunt. In this story the stag is hunted and utimately slain by a powerful hunter in the depths of winter, thereby freeing the sun and ushering in a new spring.
