Beyond the Hawthorn Tree PendantI have had an idea in my head for many years around the Hawthorn Tree. Like most people growing up in Ireland, I read "Under the Hawthorn Tree" by Marita Conlon-McKenna and in truth the impact it had on me never waned. For those of you that haven't read the book, it is a moving tale of a family during the 1840s when Ireland is devastated by The Famine.The Hawthorn tree was sacred to the ancient Irish. A solitary Hawthorn was known as a fairy tree & served as a gateway to the afterlife for many during the Famine. This piece presents this tradition in a modern style, the peridot representing the spiritual world, and the leaves representing a connection to the land.The dome is approx 22mm in diameter. The hawthorn leaves are highly polished and the veins of the leaves and background are patinated (darkened) to create a nice contrast. The piece is finished off with a lovely faceted peridot. The pendant comes on an 18 inch sterling silver chain.I must admit that this is one of my favourite pieces.This pendant is meticulously carfted from sterling silver and hallmarked in the Assay Office at Dublin Castle. A card explaining the meaning of the design comes with each piec