I’m honoured to have been asked by Leigh and Vicki to create their South Mainland Up Helly-Aa Jarl Squad jewellery - the Wolf Collection.

Having recently relocated my jewellery business from London to Hoswick, I’m delighted to contribute to such an important event in my new community. My husband Bryan is in the Jarl Squad (he loves his squad and speaks highly of Leigh and Vicki), so I thought... if I’m ever going to do jewellery for a fire festival, it would be this squad, and this fire festival. 

The jewellery I create tells stories, and I wanted this collection to be shaped by norse sagas and mythology, reflect the squad suit details, and have personal connections for Leigh and Vicki. I discussed with Vicki how she wanted the jewellery to look - beautiful, unique and striking - and how she wanted to feel when she wore it - strong like a warrior, proud, and united as a family, squad and community. Wolves emerged as the encompassing theme. 

Wolves are prominent in Norse mythology, often described as fierce and loyal like the Norse god Odin’s faithful companions Geri and Freki. And many lineages of warriors claimed to be descendants of mythical wolves.

Vikings are a warrior race, and their society was based on strong family units. The Norse sagas depict Thorfinn the Mighty, who Leigh portrays as Jarl, as a brave warrior and defender of his people. 

This is akin to wolves - fiercely territorial and intensely loyal to their packs. Wolf society closely mimics human   family structures, and wolves have complex vocal and body language skills that allow them to operate collectively and maintain unity. They are brave, beautiful, intelligent and communal animals. 

As vikings used axe and shield, wolves use their jaws to protect their pack, and to hunt for and feed their families. Wolf packs are often led by alpha females who are both ferocious and caring - they signal dominance by bearing their teeth, but are gentle enough to carry their young in their jaws. Their teeth are symbolic of collective strength and an instinctive desire to care for and nourish their tribe.

Like wolves, we are stronger together and we all have a place in our tribe. 

The Wolf Collection comprises rings, ear jackets, earrings, bangles and necklaces and is available from my Hoswick studio and website karlinanderson.com/wolf Design process: After initial discussions with  Leigh and Vicki, I created mood boards of images,  played with ideas and pencilled initial concepts. Wolves teeth (the incisors, carnassials and fangs) caught my imagination and became the prevailing motif. Leigh and Vicki provided valuable feedback as designs developed from my drawings. I then created wax carvings of each piece, which were cast in silver to produce ‘master patterns’ and used to reproduce the final pieces in a range of precious metals. Each piece is hand-finished in Hoswick and Hallmarked in Edinburgh.