Taitaya Forge

This is the pendant that inspired me to write the Origins series. Its a bit of a long story so bear with me! The Uppsala Amulet Ring pendant has been one of our most popular designs. It is also the one that has perhaps been the inspiration to several reproductions, some of which are erroneously sold as historical reproductions. As a former historical re-enactor it is important for me that there is a record on how this particular design came to being. Now, with a lot of my work, I do take a lot of inspiration from history. I started out making historical reproductions. I have taken part in some experimental archaelogy and love doing research into ancient metalworking methods. But such work was creatively very stifling, as you where limited to items you could prove existed and methods that would have been available back in the day. When I started selling on Etsy in 2012 and to an audience outside of historical re-enactment I took creative flight and only used history as a ...

When the world was new, the land was bare, and no trees grew. Old man Vainamoinen called upon the seeds to be sown. All the trees took, except for the one: the hallowed Oak. For three days and nights old man Vainamoinen swore and shouted, frustrated by the seashore, but still the Oak would not grow. Then out of the waves came Turisas, the mighty sea monster. He took some grass of the shore and burned it into ash. And Into the ash he placed an acorn and from that acron a seedling grew. The seedling waxed and grew, it became the Great Oak. The Oak grew so big that it blocked out the sun & moon, it seized the clouds and winds in their paths. The world became dark, still, void of light. Old man Vainamoinen wondered; Who would be as mighty to cut down the Great Oak? No one could do it, try as they might. So old man Vainamoinen spoke, called upon mother Nature to send forth many a strong man from the Water Folk. It was then that out of the sea a tiny man came forth, al...