This Canadian Jewellery Brand Designed a Talisman for the British Museum

The British Museum is home to some of the greatest treasures in the world – The Rosetta Stone, Greek sculptures from the Parthenon, Ancient Egyptian sphinx statues, the list goes on… (Many would liken their ownership of such antiquities to cultural theft and demand their repatriation to countries of origin, but I digress.) As of now, the British Museum is home to one more treasure – these gorgeous talismans by Vancouver-based jewellery line Pyrrha.

Pyrrha uses authentic wax seals to cast their antiquated-looking pieces, and this particular talisman depicts a suffragette being pulled by a horse, waving a banner that reads ‘Votes for Women.’ The imagery was gleaned from a lithograph by Theodore Blake Wirgman that appears in the museum’s new exhibition I object: Ian Hislop’s search for dissent which showcases objects of dissent in the British Museum’s collection. In this particular case, the dissent is related to first wave feminists fighting unjust laws that barred women from casting votes in so-called democratic elections.

“We have spent decades studying the imagery and symbolism of the 19th and 20th century, so this was an exciting experience for us,” Pyrrha designers, Danielle and Wade Papin said in a press statement. “We were especially drawn to objects depicting the suffrage movement – the Pyrrha team is mostly female, so the strong themes and imagery of Wirgman’s lithograph really resonated.”

“We are proud to be working with Pyrrha. It is wonderful to see them inspired by the British Museum collection, creating stunning sterling silver contemporary jewellery talismans that pay tribute to a key milestone in human history,” added Craig Bendle, of the British Museum.

I object: Ian Hislop’s search for dissent is on view at the British Museum now until January 20^th, 2019. If you can’t make it across the pond to the exhibition, the talisman necklaces are available for $198 USD online or call the studio directly to order for $198 CAD.