This small sterling silver pendant features a 9mm diameter ball design, based on the leather, cork-filled Kirkwall Ba', hanging from a silver wheat chain. The Ba' is hand-enamelled in Dark Tan enamel and hand-set with a smoky quartz in our Orkney workshop.
As a child, Sheila was always fascinated to make the special family trip to Kirkwall to watch the Ba’, the unique street ball game played in Orkney on Christmas and New Year’s Day since at least 1850. Played between two sides—the Uppies and the Doonies—who eagerly await the chime of the 1pm bells from St Magnus Cathedral, the Ba’ is a very social event with large crowds of onlookers and supporters.
Orcadians Jill and Derek Robb asked Sheila to create a piece based on the Ba’ to celebrate their Pearl Wedding Anniversary. The design was inspired by a Ba’ made by Garry Gibson and won by Duncan Currie on Christmas Day in 1976. For more information about the Ba’, visit orkneyjar.com.
