Lost wax cast in England from solid brass, the pattern for this keyring was sculpted in jeweller’s wax in the shape of a hibernating dormouse.

European dormice sleep for half of the year, and their name probably comes from the Old Norse and Middle English dár-mous, benumbed mouse. The Edible Dormouse was considered a delicacy by the Ancient Romans, who encouraged its spread across Europe.

To produce the dormouse, first Tender’s jeweler made a master pattern with hand tools, using hard jeweller’s resin. This master is then used to make a rubber mould, into which casting wax is poured. The wax is packed in plaster, and molten brass is run in, melting away the wax and hardening inside the plaster. The plaster is then broken away and the piece is filed and cleaned up. The dormouse is polished in a vibrating tub of marble chips, but is not varnished or lacquered, so will patinate and develop even more character over time.