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BROOCHES - Crow
The crow in Celtic folklore is similar to the crow/raven in native myth, in that it is the oldest of the animals, and somewhat mischievous.

In Celtic folklore it also plays the role of a bird of omen: " One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told."

The crow is the form taken by the Morrigan of Irish mythology when she prophesies battle. Her sister goddess Badb, also a goddess of battle, means 'storm crow'

My business name refers to the genus 'corvi' which includes crows, ravens and magpies and jays (see also Raven)

From the Aberdeen Bestiary (circa 14th c):
"...Soothsayers assert that the crow can represent by signs the concerns of men, show where an ambush is laid and foretell the future. It is a great crime to believe this - that God confides his intentions to crows. Among the many omens attributed to crows is that of presaging by their caws the coming of rain. Hence the line: 'Then the crow loudly cries for rain'..."

giant crow sculptures on Hwy 81 just south of the Canadian border

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Champleve enamel Celtic Crow with cloisonne details

Colours: Transparent Lead Free Black Size: 2"w

Price: US$199
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Colours: Transparent Lead Free Black Size: 2"w

Price: CDN$185
ORDER NOW

All brooches can also be ordered as necklaces

The Story of the Old Crow of Achill
 
(collected as Old May Night by Sean O'Sullivan)

Once upon a time there was a very cold night and the old crow of Achill was looking for somewhere warm to spend it, He eventually found a baby eagle alone in its nest just as it was beginning to get dark. So he killed the baby and threw it out of the nest and hunkered down, hoping that the mother would not notice the change and would keep him warm all night. Things fell out as he had hoped. By the time the mother eagle came back it was too dark to see and she kept the old crow warm all night. However, as day began to dawn he was worried about what she would do when she discovered his ruse. Kill him as likely as not! So he tried to think of a way around it. She had been hopping up and down all night lamenting the cold. "I don't remember a colder night than this" she said
"There was a colder night though" said the old crow "Old May night, many years ago was colder than this."
"How would you know - and you just out of the egg last week?" she asked.
"Well if you don't believe me - go and ask the Blackbird at the forge - she'll tell you"
So the mother eagle flew over to the Blackbird at the forge.
"Do you remember a colder night than this?" she asked
"Well" said the Blackbird" I have been standing on this iron bar since I came out of the egg, and every day I wipe my beak on it once. Yesterday the bar broke off. That's how long I've been standing here and I don't remember a colder night than this - but you should go and ask the bull in the field. He's older than me and he might know."
So the eagle flew over to the bull in the field.
"Do you remember a colder night than this?" she asked?
"Well" said the Bull in the field "I have been standing in this field since the day I was born and every year I drop my horns. I have been building a wall around the field with my horns - that's how long I've been standing here, and I don't remember a colder night than this. You should go and talk to the blind salmon of Assaroe - because he's the oldest animal I know."
So the eagle flew over to Assaroe and found the blind salmon
"Do you remember a colder night than this?" she asked?
"Who told you there was a colder night than this" 
asked the salmon.
"Why - it was my baby eagle in the nest."
"That was never your child" said the blind salmon "that was the old crow of Achill. There WAS a colder night than this. I remember it well- it was old May night many years ago. 
It was so cold that the stream froze and caught me in a leap so that I was frozen tight half in and half out of the river. And the old crow of Achill came along and pecked my eyes out. That's why I'm blind. You will find that the old crow has outsmarted you too."

TO ORDER: e-mail: imagocorvi AT gmail.com 
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All pieces available in other colours

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all text and photographs © 2001 - 2009,
Catherine Crowe