It might be on-trend in the 2020s, but 'mudlarking' for long-lost treasures is an activity that's deeply ingrained in Britain's past. In the 18th and 19th centuries, 'mudlarks' would scrape a living by digging through the River Thames' muddy shores to find and sell anything they could unearth.
Alex Monroe's latest jewellery collection is inspired by the practice of mudlarking, and not only is it filled with beautiful pieces, but highlights what treasures are really buried beneath the Thames' surface.
Discover the Water's Edge Collection
Here are eight remarkable treasures and creatures that are lurking on or under the surface of the world-famous river in London.
1. Poison Bottles
In the 19th century, medicines and poisons were sold in small glass bottles. To prevent people from taking a swig, the words "NOT TO BE TAKEN" were embossed on their sides. However, not everyone was literate in those times. To signal danger for everyone, these bottles were manufactured with a distinctive colour (emerald green or cobalt blue) and a unique shape (often hexagonal). Read more at the Beach Combing Magazine.
How does it tie-in with the collection?
The "Not To Be Taken" Poison Bottle Necklace is a miniature replica of these Victorian safety innovations.
2. Trade Tokens
In the mid-1600s there was a severe shortage of official short change in London. To keep business flowing, businesses would mint their own unofficial currency. Eventually these would be outlawed, although many can be found in the mud to this day. Read more at the London Museum.
How does it tie-in with the collection?
The Mudlarked Anchor Token Stud Earrings feature a replica of a token from a riverside business.
3. Short-snouted seahorses
While you'd think seahorses are tropic-dwellers only, the short-snouted variety are actually native to the UK. Conservationists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have discovered colonies living in the Thames estuary. What does this mean? That the river's water quality is recovering. Read more at The Wildlife Trust and the ZSL.
How does it tie-in with the collection?
The Seahorse Necklace celebrates this returning wildlife.
4. Boatyard Iron & Chains
The Thames was once packed with docks, wharfs, warehouses and shipbuilding yards, as well as communities of fishermen, dockworkers, sailors and more. The anaerobic (oxygen free) properties of the Thames' mud mean that the countless accidentally discarded objects remain well-preserved. Read more at the Thames Festival Trust.
How does it tie-in with the collection?
The Boatyard Link Chain & Pearl Necklace is designed to replicate the types of boatyard items preserved in the mud.
5. European Eels
Beginning their life in the Sargasso Sea, these mysterious eels drift on ocean currents for two years before they migrate to the Thames. As you might be aware, eels were once a staple food for London's working class (jellied eels) and it's a dish that still persists today despite it's lessened popularity. Eels are now a sadly endangered and protected species. Read more at the ZSL.
How does it tie-in with the collection?
The Silver Eel Hoop Earrings capture the eel's elegance.
6. Limpet clusters
Limpets are 'navigators' of the foreshore, moving around to graze on algae when the tide comes in, and always returning to the exact same spots on their rocks before the tide goes out. Read more at The Wildlife Trust.
How does it tie-in with the collection?
The Limpet Cluster Necklace and Earrings reflects their presence within rock pools.
7. Painter's Mussel
These native mussels earned their name because artists used their sturdy shells as convenient palettes for mixing paints. Being disposable, they were easily discarded after a painting session. What's more, mussels can be in the Thames although their numbers have declined over the years. Learn more at the Natural History Museum and NatureSpot.
How does it tie-in with the collection?
The Mussel & Pearl Necklace showcases the hidden beauty of these overlooked shells.
8. Otters
Declared extinct in the Thames in the 1950s due to pollution, otters have steadily returned over the years as the river grows cleaner. While still a rare spot, their return is considered one of the greatest environmental success stories of the Thames.
How does it tie-in with the collection?
The Otter & Pearl Necklace symbolises the return of the otter.
It's worth noting that if you want to mudlark on the Thames, you'll need a Thames Foreshore Permit, so please don't go searching for treasures without it!
Explore the Water's Edge Collection
All of Alex Monroe's jewellery collections are inspired by the great outdoors, so there are other beautiful pieces if mudlarking doesn't quite match your special someone's style:
- A Garden Gathering: pretty florals meet bumble bees
- Wild Botany: inspired by the rich plant life of the British landscape.
- Into The Woods: venture into the woodland and forests of the UK.
