Handmade sterling silver and brass statement necklace. A hand-sawed skull sits in front of a hand-sawed, hand-textured sickle. Hand-fabricated brass wheat dances around the sickle. The imagery sits in a hand-sawed ornate frame and is completed with a beautiful matte finish. Pendant measures approximately 1.625 x 2 inches and includes a sterling silver chain in your choice of length from 16 to 30 inches.
This necklace is inspired by Poludnitsa, also known as Lady Midday or the Noonwraith, a terrifying figure in Slavic mythology. She can appear as a beautiful young woman or an ugly old hag whose skin has withered away to reveal her skull. Poludnitsa is typically seen with flowing blonde hair, dressed in white, and carrying a scythe, shears, or a sickle. She roams the fields during the hottest part of the day, engaging people in riddles, conversation, or even dance. If someone fails to participate, she will give them muscle cramps, heatstroke, or even cut off their head with her scythe. Many believe Poludnitsa was used as a scare tactic to keep young children from playing in valuable crops. Others believe she is strictly just the personification of heat stroke, highlighting the dangers of excessive labor in heat. In certain legends, Poludnitsa is an evil trickster spirit, seeking revenge for her violent death. In others, she is a neutral spirit, protecting the Earth and its crops. No matter her reasoning, if you choose to roam the fields in the middle of a hot summer day, beware of the Noonwraith!
