Leah Princess Dwyer

Scársa, a name derived from the Irish words "scéal" (story) and "ársa" (ancient), is a jewellery collection that celebrates the heroes and rich imagery of Irish folklore. This body of work centres on the tale of the goddess Tailtiu and Nuada Airgetlám, a High King of Ireland.

Each piece is individually designed to represent a specific moment within these stories; when worn together, the pieces unite to tell the figures’ full tale.

Found objects — including deer bone, a forged iron pin created by one of my ancestors, and insects cast in 925 silver — are incorporated to evoke these tales. Traditional techniques and new-age technologies such as forging, wax carving, hand fabrication, stone setting, and laser welding are employed in the construction of the pieces.

This didactic collection honours heritage by celebrating Ireland’s folklore and preserving ancestral storytelling traditions through the ancient craft of jewellery-making, interpreted through a contemporary lens.