St. Magnus Cathedral began construction in 1137 and is the most northerly of the UK's cathedrals. Built by the Norse Earls of Orkney it commemorates the martyrdom (and later sainthood) of Magnus Erlendsson whose tale is one of those in the Norse Orkneyinga sagas. In an alcove of the church a brass mould was found. Many holy sites around Europe had such items that could be given to pilgrims in exchange for donations. These crosses would have originally been of lead and would have been venerated as important spiritual items to those that acquired them. St. Magnus' grave site in Birsay and later the cathedral, would have been important sites to northern Christianity and so the mould may have been used anytime throughout the 300 years the cathedral was slowly built and added to and likely beyond that as well.
The original brass mould can now be found on display at the Orkney Museum in Kirkwall alongside many other items of Orkney's long heritage. We were given the opportunity to make the first reproduction of these crosses since a single silver cross was made using the mould in 1967. This is therefore an item of particular pride, cast in high quality pewter.
The crosses have been hand cast to a completely new mould replicating the original brass matrix found in the cathedral. They have then been brushed with a metal brush to produce a consistent finish, before the relief details are polished to a bright sheen. The overall finish gives a good contrast that brings out the details in the metal casting.
The crosses are then hung on a simple dyed leather cord as a rustic modern necklace.
A more decorative variation is finished in the same way and added to a handmade braided linen cord alongside a selection of simple and complex glass beads (also made in a traditional 'lampwork' manner) based on those that would have been common at the time of the crosses original use.
Each item consists of a cross, with silver plated jump-ring attaching it to the leather cord, a small card with the story of St. Magnus on one side and information about the cross itself on the other, all presented in a small cotton drawstring bag.
Now that you have read the story of Magnus, imagine the stories of all those pilgrims, centuries ago that would have made the long journey to Orkney.
Magnus and his cousin Håkon were the joint Earls of Orkney and ruled together. However, being a devout follower of Christ, while on a raid to Anglesey in Wales Magnus refused to fight and remained on board ship singing psalms. Their followers argued as to who was in the right, wishing to do battle with one another. On returning to Orkney an assembly, known as a Thing, was arranged to negotiate peace between the Earls. Magnus and Håkon were to meet on the island of Egilsay, with each to only bring two ships. Håkon betrayed Magnus, bringing the full crews of eight ships to capture Magnus. Magnus was then executed when Håkon made one of his men strike Magnus on the head with an axe. Magnus was then buried in a rocky churchyard on Birsay. Soon the entire area grew green and lush. Local people began to report strange occurrences and miraculous healings at Magnus' grave. William the Old, the then Bishop of Orkney warned that these tales were heresy and forbade their telling. William was then said to have been struck blind at his Birsay church, with his sight returning after praying at the grave of Magnus.
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