The 13 Treasures of Britain
The 13 Treasures of Britain, took me about 13 months to complete. As far as I am aware The 13 Treasures have never been made before, so this has been a very exciting project for me.
The Treasures have been cast in silver at Hatton Garden, London from my original wax carvings and are miniature in size.
Below you will find photographs of The 13 Treasures with the name in Welsh and then English.
There is a facebook page The 13 Treasures of Britain, where you can like and follow The 13 Treasures of Britain's progress, thank you.
Creating The 13 Treasures of Britain. The hardest part has been keeping the size and detail of each treasure equal across all of them and the date and linking symbolism to their story and myth. Number 13 encompasses the central figure Draco...
A book about this particular set of The 13 Treasures is also currently available to order from Amazon. It includes descriptions of the 13 Treasures as well as insights into how I came up with each design for these unique sterling silver miniatures.
Each Treasure is available individually or as a full set of 13. Cast in 925 silver and finished by hand with The 13 Treasures hallmark and standard hallmark. Contact me for more details.
The Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain (Welsh: Tri Thlws ar Ddeg Ynys Prydain) Are a series of items in late medieval Welsh tradition. Lists of the items appear in texts dating to the 15th and 16th centuries. Most of the items are placed in the Hen Ogledd or "Old North", the Brittonic-speaking parts of what is now southern Scotland and Northern England; some early manuscripts refer to the whole list specifically as treasures "that were in the North". The number of treasures is always given as thirteen, but some later versions list different items, replacing or combining entries to maintain the number. Later versions also supplement the plain list with explanatory comments about each treasure.
1. White-Hilt, the Sword of Rhydderch Hael (Dyrnwyn, gleddyf Rhydderch Hael): "If a well-born man drew it himself, it burst into flame from its hilt to its tip. And everyone who used to ask for it would receive; but because of this peculiarity everyone used to reject it. And therefore he was called Rhydderch the Generous."
2. The Hamper of Gwyddno Garanhir (Mwys Gwyddno Garanir): Food for one man would be put in it, and when it was opened, food for a hundred men would be found in it.
3. The Horn of Brân Galed from the North (Corn Brân Galed o'r Gogledd): Whatever drink might be wished for was found in it.
4. The Chariot of Morgan Mwynfawr (Car Morgan Mwynfawr): If a man went in it, he might wish to be wherever he would, and he would be there quickly.
5. The Halter of Clydno Eiddyn (Cebystr Clydno Eiddin), Which was fixed to a staple at the foot of his bed: whatever horse he might wish for, he would find in the halter.
6. The Knife of Llawfrodedd Farchog (Cyllell Llawfrodedd Farchog), Which would serve for twenty-four men to eat at table.
7. The Cauldron of Dyrnwch the Giant (Pair Dyrnwch Gawr): If meat for a coward were put in it to boil, it would never boil; but if meat for a brave man were put in it, it would boil quickly (and thus the brave could be distinguished from the cowardly).
8. The Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd (Hogalen Tudwal Tudclyd): If a brave man sharpened his sword on the whetstone, then the sword would certainly kill any man from whom it drew blood. If a cowardly man used the whetstone, though, his sword would refuse to draw blood at all.
9. The Coat of Padarn Beisrudd (Pais Badarn Beisrydd): If a well-born man put it on, it would be the right size for him; if a churl, it would not go upon him.
10. The Crock and the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric (Gren a desgyl Rhygenydd Ysgolhaig): Whatever food might be wished for in them, it would be found.
11. The Chessboard of Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio (Gwyddbwyll Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio): If the pieces were set, they would play by themselves. The board was of gold, and the men of silver.
12. The Mantle of Arthur in Cornwall (Llen Arthyr yng Nghernyw): Whoever was under it could not be seen, and he could see everyone.
13. Eluned's Stone and Ring. When the stone is hidden from sight in the closed hand the wearer becomes invisible.
Later lists also include two additional treasures, the Mantle of Tegau Eurfon, and Eluned's Stone and Ring. Where these appear, one of the other treasures is dropped and the Crock and the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric are counted as one item. The new items come from literary, rather than traditional, material; the Mantle comes from a version of the Caradoc story, while Eluned's stone and ring come from the prose tale Ow.
In this collection the Stone and Ring have great significance which will be explained later and has been used to make up the 13. The Mantle of Tegau Eurfon has been excluded.