About Bone Carving
Each piece of Seodra Bán jewellery is individually hand-carved from locally sourced beef bone.
All designs can be created as pendants, hung on waxed cotton cord or sterling silver snake chain.
Most designs can also be created as brooches or earrings, both with sterling silver findings.
"Inspired by the endless possibilities of my material, I design new pieces on an ongoing basis. Contact me to enquire about new pieces, or to commission a piece to your own design."
Dublin born Aoife learned the art of bone carving in New Zealand, where it is a traditional Maori craft.
On researching the history of the craft, Aoife found that it was once widely practised in Ireland. Bone working was a particularly important trade in Viking Dublin, with archaeologists finding remains of bone workshops around the Temple Bar and Christchurch area. Evidence suggests that Dublin bone workers specialised in comb making.
After the Middle ages bone working died out in Ireland, but this ancient craft continued on in a number of cultures, to the greatest extent in the Pacific.
With the aim of reviving the art form in Ireland, Aoife opened the Bone Carving Studio and Gallery in Galway in January 2010 where she makes her Seodra Bán jewellery, and runs classes in bone carving.