MEANING: Unicorns have featured in many cultures going as far back as the classical age, including the ancient Babylonians and the Indus civilization. With its white horse-like body and single spiraling horn, the unicorn is a symbol of purity, innocence and power in Celtic mythology.
Legend also tells us that their horns can purify poisoned water, such is the strength of their healing power.
From a Christian perspective, Unicorn became an emblem of chastity and power in that only a virgin could capture the creature. Fragments from purported Unicorn horns were used by clergy to bless holy water, making it pure.
Interestingly, the Unicorn is the official national animal of Scotland! These proud, untameable creatures are fiercely independent and famously difficult to capture or conquer, which will sound familiar to anyone who has read their Scottish history. Even though unicorns are mythological, Scots have always felt drawn to what they represent.
Their adaptation into Scottish lore lies in heraldry – the age-old practice of designing and displaying coats of arms or crests to distinguish between groups of people, armies or institutions. Using heraldry as our guide, we can see that the unicorn was first introduced to the royal coat of arms of Scotland around the mid-1500s.
Prior to the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the Scottish coat of arms was supported by two unicorns. However, when King James VI of Scotland also became James I of England, he replaced one of the unicorns with the national animal of England, the lion, as a display of unity between the two countries. Of course, folklore fans will know that lions and unicorns have always been enemies, locked in a battle for the title of ‘king of beasts’.
THE CARVING:
Our carvings are single pieces of western red cedar, designed and carved to be wall hangings. Each carving begins as a 1 X 12-inch cedar board. While we use power tools (Scroll Saw, Rotary shaft Tool, handheld detail sanders, etc.), we use no lasers, CNC machines or computer-operated cutting machines. All work is done with our hands and eyes…
We cut the 2-dimensional blanks with scroll and jig saws (double-sized custom orders have to be cut with a jigsaw). Carving is done with rotary shaft tools and disc grinders. The 80-grit sanding is the final phase of the carving process, removing the nicks and gouges from the carving tools, and finishes the shaping of the weave. The next 2 sandings with 120 and then 220 grit finishes the smoothing and polishing. They are finished with Clear Danish Oil to seal the piece, bringing out the grain and the color.
SIZE: 13.75 inches x 10 inches
