You already know which one you are. Some people see the great horned owl, fierce and tufted and completely certain of itself, and feel immediately recognized. Others see the barn owl, heart-faced and luminous, hunting by pure sound in the dark, and feel exactly the same way. Both are right. Both are an excellent choice for your finger.
The Great Horned Owl and the Barn Owl
These two owls are not as closely related as they look. The great horned owl belongs to the family Strigidae, the true owls. The barn owl belongs to Tytonidae, its own entirely separate family, so biologically distinct that scientists gave it its own classification apart from every other owl on Earth. They have arrived at similar solutions to the same dark night through completely different evolutionary paths.
Those dramatic tufts rising from the great horned owl's head are not ears. They are called plumicorns, from the Latin for soft feather and horn, and they play no role in hearing whatsoever. They are for expression and communication, raised and lowered to signal mood and intent. The great horned owl has opinions and would like you to know it.
The barn owl's heart-shaped face is a different kind of tool entirely. Every feather of that disc is arranged to funnel sound toward ears set asymmetrically on either side of the head, one higher than the other, allowing the barn owl to triangulate sound in three dimensions with extraordinary precision. It can hunt in complete darkness. It does not need to see what it is hunting. It only needs to listen.
Two owls. Two families. Two completely different approaches. Both of them extraordinarily good at what they do.
The Piece
Two tiny owl faces, each one about half an inch tall, each one completely itself on its ring band. The great horned owl looks up from your finger with those characteristic ear tufts raised and that fierce brow set in the expression of a bird that has never once questioned its place in the world. The barn owl looks up with that round heart-shaped face, softer in expression but no less intent, the feathers of the facial disc radiating outward in careful lines that suggest the real thing at this small scale. Both are given a darkening patina so every carved line reads in deep relief, the texture of feathers and the shadows between them visible even at this tiny scale.
Each ring is made to order on a simple sterling silver band. Please note your ring size when you order and your owl will be sized just for you.
The Craftsmanship
- Ring face: approximately half an inch tall
- Material: sterling silver throughout, oxidized patina
- Band: sterling silver, sized to order
- Options: great horned owl or barn owl
- Edition: made to order, each one unique
A Note from Tamara
I made these because I kept making the owl studs and people kept asking if there were rings, and honestly I completely understand why. There is something about wearing a tiny owl face on your finger that feels right in a way that is hard to explain but easy to feel. The great horned owl and the barn owl feel like two different kinds of people to me and I wanted both of them to have a home on someone's hand. I hope whoever wears one looks down at their finger on a hard day and feels just a little bit more like themselves.
Shipping
Your owl ring will be made to order just for you in my little studio in the New Hampshire woods. Please allow one to two weeks for it to be created. You will receive a tracking number by email so you can follow it on its journey to its new home.