The pieces we regret are rarely the ones we bought. They’re the ones we convinced ourselves to think about for a while longer, the ones we assumed would be waiting for us when we decide and they’re usually the ones we remember years later.
Recently, one of our Magpies experienced exactly that. She’d fallen completely in love with an intaglio… but by the time she came back, it had already flown the nest. Luckily, her story has a happy ending and we were able to recreate the symbol as a Bauble Magpie original intaglio.
The experience got me thinking. There are a handful of symbols sitting on my bench right now that deserve to find their person. So before they quietly fly the nest and you’re potentially left with regret, I’d love to introduce you to three of my favourites.
Brand spanking new seals available for commission
Quatrefoil Rose
At first glance, it’s simply beautiful. A perfectly carved rose, framed within a graceful quatrefoil. But both elements have carried meaning for centuries.
The rose has long symbolised love, devotion and beauty, but it’s also a flower of resilience. It blooms despite thorns, making it a reminder that growth and joy often exist alongside life’s challenges.
Surrounding it is the quatrefoil; a shape found throughout Gothic architecture, medieval manuscripts and sacred art. Traditionally associated with harmony, protection and good fortune, it lends the seal a sense of balance.Together, they create a talisman for anyone entering a new chapter. One that celebrates love in all its forms, whilst reminding us to keep growing, even when life feels uncertain.
Commission this seal from £1,900. Get started with the Quatrefoil Rose Intaglio.
Athena
There’s something wonderfully commanding about this seal. erhaps it’s Athena herself, her gaze filled with the calm confidence of someone who never needs to prove she’s the cleverest person in the room.
Or perhaps it’s the extraordinary colour. Carved in a striking shade of violet, this is one of those intaglios that stops people in their tracks. Purple has long been associated with wisdom, nobility and creativity, a fitting shade for the goddess who embodies all three.
Athena has always been one of my favourite mythological figures because she represents a different kind of strength. She’s a symbol for women who trust their judgement, value their independence and understand that true power rarely needs to announce itself.
Commission this seal from £5,400. Get started with the Athena Intaglio.
Amphitrite
I have a real soft spot for the lesser-known figures of Greek mythology, and Amphitrite is no exception. As Queen of the Sea, she represents calm authority rather than chaos. Emotional depth rather than drama. The ability to weather life’s storms without losing yourself to them.
The imagery itself is beautifully detailed, but what makes this seal truly captivating is the paste. The crystal clear paste catches the light beautifully, evoking the clarity and stillness of water rather than its turbulence.It feels as though Amphitrite has always belonged within it.
This is a symbol for anyone navigating change, embracing life’s ebb and flow, or simply learning that resilience doesn’t always have to look loud. Sometimes strength is found in stillness.
Commission this seal from £3,700. Get started with the Amphitrite Intaglio.
Don’t Miss Your Favourite
Perhaps one of these has already caught your eye. If so, I’d encourage you to pay attention. After all, Queen Treehead taught us that the symbols we can’t stop thinking about often turn out to be the ones we were meant to wear. Queen Treehead was lucky, we were able to give her story a second chance. But most of the pieces that fly from the studio don’t come back. So if you’ve spotted a symbol that keeps finding its way back into your thoughts…
I wouldn’t ignore it.
You never know.
It might already be waiting for you.
With love and shiny things, always
Emma and the Bauble Magpie Team
