WITH an elegant and iconic design, Vanessa Murtagh of Vanessa Ree Jewellery, has found a way to pay homage to our favourite animal, the horse, as part of her award wining Irish animal collection.

The collection is a contemporary take on our national heritage reflecting our native animals. Celebrating animals including the horse, stag, fox and interestingly the cow, Vanessa has evolved these shapes into pendants, brooches and most recently bangles.

Both designed and handcrafted in her Kildare-based studio, Vanessa is in the heart of horse lover territory - she explains: “Our connection with animals is the reason I’ve designed these pieces to be face on, it creates an intimacy with the animals we hold dear. By focusing on a relevant theme, like Irish animals, it allows me to expand and evolve this popular collection which represents a very modern Ireland.”

The collection already includes the iconic stag, horse, fox and cow with each form available in sterling silver, 9ct gold, up to 18ct gold, and there is also the option to further embellish the faces of each animal with diamonds.

Prices start at €280 for a silver horse and range up to the stag brooch made to order in 18ct gold with 39 x.11ct diamonds at €4,200.

All jewellery can be purchased directly from vanessaree.com