Pictish Goose Beaker

A hand-raised silver beaker developed in response to early Pictish carving and symbol.
 
Formed in sterling silver using traditional silversmithing techniques, the vessel is raised and worked through chasing, building both form and surface through repeated, controlled hammer strikes. The resulting texture is integral to the material, carrying the rhythm and force of its making.
 
The surface draws from Pictish symbol stones, where animals and abstract forms were incised into stone as part of an early visual language. These carvings, often fragmented and partially lost, survive as traces of meaning rather than complete narratives.
 
Rather than replicating a specific image, the beaker responds to this language through surface, depth, and interruption, suggesting presence without fully defining it. The reference to the goose is held lightly, emerging through the surface rather than sitting upon it.
 
Light moves across the vessel unevenly, catching on the chased forms and revealing shifting areas of highlight and shadow. The cylindrical form remains direct and grounded, designed to be held, used, and experienced through touch.
 
Beakers are among the most immediate forms in silversmithing, handled directly, without mediation. Here, that directness is paired with a surface that carries memory, place, and the traces of an early symbolic system.
 
Each piece is individually made, with variations in surface and form that reflect the intensity of the process.
 
Details
Solid britannia silver
Hand-raised and hand-chased
Approx. 70 x 70 x 80mm
Hallmarked in Edinburgh, Scotland
Suitable for drinking or as a sculptural object
Handmade in Aberdeen, Scotland
MADE TO ORDER - Allow 8-12 weeks for delivery.