The surprising origin of my Frederick pendant

Frederick is one of my favourite pieces, and has long been a favourite of my customers long before Endurlífga Jewellery was established! Today I'm going to tell you the story of how he came into existence and how he got his name...

Back in 2016 I was working at an old and well known regalia makers. I worked mostly in the enamelling workshop but would also work in the silversmithing shop at least once a week. Although I'd completed my formal apprenticeship, I was still considered as apprentice as silversmiths can work for a decade before being considered 'fully trained'. So in between orders I was encouraged to work on my own personal projects to build up my silversmithing skills. I'd already made something for my mom so the foreman suggested that I make something for my dad. As my personal projects had mostly been animal-themed it was suggested that I make a silver keyring in the shape of my dad's favourite animal. I knew just what to make!

I started searching for images of tree frogs and chose a few as inspiration before drawing the outline of the frog onto sterling silver sheet. The 3D frog was to be formed in silver - a task which I thought would be impossible!

Over the next few months I'd work on my frog whenever I had a little time spare. Slowly a frog started to emerge from my once flat sheet of silver. The process was slow and frustrating and I wanted to give up so many times.

Eventually after around 30 hours of work spread out over a few months, my little tree frog was finished! I was so proud of him, and my colleagues were very impressed with the result. I showed photos to my friends and family and had many requests for frog pendants, so I had a casting mould made of the original piece. I needed a name for this new piece and thought long and hard about it. Staring out of the workshop window I saw the street sign opposite - Frederick Street. So Frederick it was.

By this time it was almost my dad's birthday so I planned to gift the frog to him then. The week before his birthday my foreman told me that my dad would be so happy to receive his handmade frog. That's when I revealed the secret I'd been hiding...my dad is terrified of frogs! The whole process had been to make a gag gift for my dad! Luckily he found it hilarious and, although a little realistic for his liking, he thought the workmanship was fabulous 😊