{"product_id":"magpies-treasure","title":"Magpies' Treasure","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMagpies' Treasure is a painting of two magpies on their nest surrounded by their collection of treasures. \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal watercolour painting\u003c\/strong\u003e on 425gsm paper, size 435mm x 324mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA3 signed poster prints - size 420mm x 297mm, the closest size to the actual painting - \u003cem\u003eremember, P\u0026amp;P is included in the price\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGreetings cards \u003cem\u003ecoming in mid April 2026\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMagpies' Treasure is a painting about the value of things\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMagpies’ Treasure explores what we value. It shows two birds in a nest surrounded by “precious” objects like gold and jewellery - things humans admire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI’ve also added treasures I value more: natural remnants of life, such as amber, a snail operculum, and fossilised coral.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut for the magpies, the true treasure is their eggs; everything else is just trinkets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMyth-buster!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt's NOT TRUE that magpies are attracted to shiny things.\u003c\/strong\u003e Studies show they’re cautious around unfamiliar objects. Their curiosity and intelligence may have inspired the myth, which still lives on in folklore… and in this painting\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMagpies and folklore\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe European magpie (Pica pica) is a species of crow. I love all crows, but magpies have a special place in my heart with their handsome iridescent plumage and glossy, long tails.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo birds have been busy nesting in the trees opposite our house, and it's that pair that have inspired this painting. Folklore suggests that they are a bird of ill omen, but this is clearly nonsense. One magpie is always a joy, two is even better - especially when I can see them every day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are many fascinating collective nouns for magpies: tidings\u003cspan class=\"aCOpRe\"\u003e, mischief, charm, flock, gulp, murder,  tittering, conventicle, tribe or congregation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMackenzie Crook's Detectorists and Small Prophets\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKeen-eyed fans of screenwriter Mackenzie Crook (as I am) will enjoy spotting a number of objects from his work in my painting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom 'Detectorists', I've chosen a toy car, a ringpull, a 1970s cycling proficiency badge and a Henry VI hammered silver groat. A\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003end from 'Small Prophets', a gold ring, a plain undecorated button, an amethyst, a brass key, and a pen nib. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe magpie is a significant symbol in the BBC TV series \"Detectorists\" - of which I am a huge fan. At the end of episode 1, series 3, is \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=C6gSYHJhuCw\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ethis magical 4 minute sequence\u003c\/a\u003e featuring a a reworking of the traditional Magpie Song by The Unthanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOther Magpie paintings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMagpies' Treasure isn't my first painting of these marvellous birds. Have a look at my other magpie-inspired works: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Magpie Song painting\" href=\"https:\/\/janetomlinson.com\/products\/magpie-song\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMagpie Song\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"She Whispered her name was Joy\" href=\"https:\/\/janetomlinson.com\/products\/magpie-whisper-joy?_pos=3\u0026amp;_sid=1f63d3b62\u0026amp;_ss=r\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eShe Whispered her name was Joy \u003c\/a\u003e a painting of a magpie with Springtime fairies \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA life-size \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"paper mache magpie\" href=\"https:\/\/janetomlinson.com\/products\/paper-mache-birds\" target=\"_blank\"\u003epaper mache magpie\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"British Crows\" href=\"https:\/\/janetomlinson.com\/products\/british-crows\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBritish Crows\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFor Detectorists fans, \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Detectorists themed cards\" href=\"https:\/\/janetomlinson.com\/products\/detectorists-greetings-cards?\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere are some cards\u003c\/a\u003e you might enjoy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Jane Tomlinson","offers":[{"title":"buy original painting","offer_id":57540973461878,"sku":null,"price":345.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"buy signed print size A3","offer_id":57540973429110,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0842\/7212\/0100\/files\/MagpiesTreasureSMwithJTsig.jpg?v=1774439530","url":"https:\/\/janetomlinson.com\/products\/magpies-treasure","provider":"Jane Tomlinson Artist","version":"1.0","type":"link"}