Sheela Na Gig – Guardian of Thresholds

Oak Guardian Ritual Vessel

Height: 20cm

A quiet forest presence in clay.

This sculptural ritual vessel is formed as a circular altar piece - a symbolic portal - wrapped in oak leaves and acorns, guardians of strength, endurance, and ancient wisdom. The oak has long been revered across Celtic lands as a tree of protection and sovereignty, a keeper of memory and threshold spaces.

Emerging from the curve of the arch is a serene feminine face, eyes closed in calm knowing. She holds a small candle cup above - a place for light, intention, and prayer. At the base, a central well cradles a tealight, allowing a soft glow to radiate through the piece, illuminating the guardian and the leaves that embrace her.

Sheela Na Gig – Guardian of Thresholds

Height: 30cm

A contemporary clay interpretation of the ancient Sheela Na Gig - the fierce feminine figure found carved into medieval stone churches across Ireland and Britain.

Historically, Sheela Na Gigs were placed above doorways and thresholds. They were not decoration. They were protection. A warning. A guardian of life force, sexuality, birth, death and rebirth. They stood unapologetically at the boundary between worlds.

This sculptural piece honours that lineage while reinterpreting it through a softer but no less powerful lens.

Crowned with the crescent moon, she embodies cyclical wisdom - maiden, mother, crone. Her hands form a circular portal, a sacred opening that frames a central candle well. When lit, the flame sits at the heart of the circle, illuminating the passage she holds.

Layered blue and earthy glazes move like water and sky across her form, while subtle accents highlight the face and hands - drawing attention to presence, sight, and touch. She stands elevated on a pedestal base, grounding the piece in stability and strength.

This piece functions as:
• A ritual candle holder
• A feminine altar centrepiece 
• A guardian for sacred spaces
• A meditation focus for cyclical work

Wheel thrown and hand-built. One of a kind. No moulds or duplication.

For those drawn to ancient feminine archetypes, threshold spaces, and the reclamation of embodied power.

These items are handmade at every stage in the making process and so each is unique. From creating the form, to hand making each batch of glaze, to hand carving and hand painting the designs, many variances are found at each stage of the process. Each piece is mindfully created in my studio over a number of weeks, with each finished piece having its own subtle differences. That is the beauty of handmade. These photos are a representation of the piece from this collection you will receive.

To find out more about the making process click here.