Rare and Unusual Doe (Celtic Hind) Brass Bracelet

This unusual bracelet has proven to be a very rare and unique bracelet. I believe it to be a very singular vintage piece. It may represent the Celtic Hind (Doe) and was made as a symbol of a Spirit Animal. 

The inside diameter of the bracelet is 2-1/8” (small) wide by 1-3/4” tall. The Hind mounting plate is 1.5 x 1.5 incghes and the head rises 1 inch above it. It weighs 1.4 ounces.

There is some wear to the head. Please review the pictures for more insight. Overall it is beautifully made and a quality piece.

Deer had a special place in early cultures as a source of food, clothing, and tools. As such, when an animal was killed, gratitude and reverence for its life were expressed.  The spirit or medicine of the animal took on special meaning, often as a totem or guide for an individual.

In Celtic lands, the Hind was the small, feminine deer that symbolized a lightness of spirit, an innocence, or a magical moment when it was glimpsed in the forest. In Scotland, the little red deer were considered “fairy cattle”. There are numerous legends in Ireland and Wales as well; many connect the hind to the Hag of Cailleach, the goddess in her aged wisdom and strength.

Seeing the hind or calling upon the hind brought feminine energy and lightness to those who understood her “medicine”. The reminder to step lightly, to be gentle with oneself as well as with others was in contrast to the message of the stag, the masculine counterpart.

To the Celts, the hind might appear to lead one to the land of fairy or the Otherworld. Stories of young girls shape-shifting into hinds and scampering away or vice versa hinds becoming young women who lure the hero away have many variations. To welcome the hind is to open a gateway to a place where compassion, gentleness, and gratitude prevail.