Christmas Pud Girl III (sixpence surprise)

Artist's notes on style, materials and inspiration:

I've made a small number of Christmas themed wood girls this year, three of which are Christmas puddings. I found three beautiful vintage metal holly leaves which I thought would make the perfect final touch and they remind me slightly of the flames that enrobe the pudding when it is set alight for the table. I am not able to eat Christmas pud because I am allergic to raisins (and other fruits) and they make my mouth itch and swell up - despite that I've always loved their theatrical style and their place in a traditional Christmas.

These girls have another surprise up their sleeve - a lucky sixpence. Sixpences (or 'tanners') were a popular coin that signified good fortune - in Britain a bride on her wedding day should wear 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a sixpence in her shoe'. First minted in 1551, and originally made from silver, they were last struck for everyday use in 1967, but stayed in circulation until 1980. After Britain decimalised in 1971, the value was converted to be worth 2 1/2 pence.

From the Victorian era onwards, it became tradition to mix a threepence or sixpence into the ingredients when preparing a Christmas pudding. Prepared on Stir-up Sunday, the last Sunday before the start of Advent, the coin would be placed into the mixture, then the mixture was stirred by every member of the family. When it came to eating the pudding on Christmas Day, whoever found the sixpence in their slice would receive good luck in the year to come.

These wood girls are hiding a lucky sixpence inside - remove the girl and then tip up the pudding to find it! I have the following dates of sixpence, if it is important to you for any reason - just leave a comment at checkout for the preferred date of sixpence and I will oblige if I can: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967.

This little wood girl sits snugly inside her Christmas pud, but she also can come out and the two pieces can stand side by side if desired. The pudding also has a red plate to sit on.

Round turned wood shapes are added to and hand painted by me, a British artist, exploring patterns and scenes encountered by me on my travels and in daily life.

My pieces are painted in a naïve and simple style, with visible brush strokes and differing paint consistencies. It is important to note that these dolls are made from real wood which will have naturally occurring markings and grain, and sometimes there will be small amount of bleeding along the grain, or knots, which is to be expected when using untreated wood - please make sure you consult the pictures carefully before purchasing. Finished in a top coat of matt acrylic.

Total height on plate: 20.5cm

Please note: THIS IS NOT A TOY and should be kept out of the reach of children.