In between learning to size rings for customers, I've been chipping away at a silver and jade pendant.
I'd aimed for a pendant that looks like petals of a lotus flower. Here was the initial sketch:
I'd aimed for a pendant that looks like petals of a lotus flower. Here was the initial sketch:
It seems that since the ancient world, nature-influenced designs and motifs have dominated jewelry. That trend has clearly continued! Rarely a day goes by that I don't see a billboard, magazine or web ad that features a natural pattern. From Piaget, to Tiffany & Co, to Anthropologie, it is difficult to not find a flower or leaf patterned piece of jewelry.
For many, flowers or leaves can be symbolic and have personal meaning. A certain flower or plant may be associated with a loved one or memory. Or perhaps, the pattern is so mesmerizing that you just can't help but love it. It's mesmerizing to look at the cells of a honeycomb or the radial symmetry of a sunflower, isn't it?
For me, geometric pattern found in nature is plainly beautiful with or without the added curiosity of symbolism! By human nature, perhaps, we have an innate attraction to the geometry reflected in natural phenomena.
Because metal is workable with the application of heat, it can be formed into any shape ... so what happens? Our obsession with the world we live in is mirrored in the adornments of jewelry all around us. With basic hand tools the most ornate forms can be achieved by machine or an artist themselves.
What is your favorite shape found in nature? Here was a short I found on Vimeo that nicely highlighted common patterns found in nature:
For many, flowers or leaves can be symbolic and have personal meaning. A certain flower or plant may be associated with a loved one or memory. Or perhaps, the pattern is so mesmerizing that you just can't help but love it. It's mesmerizing to look at the cells of a honeycomb or the radial symmetry of a sunflower, isn't it?
For me, geometric pattern found in nature is plainly beautiful with or without the added curiosity of symbolism! By human nature, perhaps, we have an innate attraction to the geometry reflected in natural phenomena.
Because metal is workable with the application of heat, it can be formed into any shape ... so what happens? Our obsession with the world we live in is mirrored in the adornments of jewelry all around us. With basic hand tools the most ornate forms can be achieved by machine or an artist themselves.
What is your favorite shape found in nature? Here was a short I found on Vimeo that nicely highlighted common patterns found in nature:
NATURE BY NUMBERS from Cristóbal Vila on Vimeo.
After getting thoroughly psyched to begin work on the pendant and sketching it out, the petals were cut out of paper to make a mock-up.
Then, they were traced onto silver sheet and cut out. Using a leather mallet, dapping block and rounded punches, the pieces of metal were rounded.
After the leaves were cut out and rounded, a bur was used to carve out the lengthwise veining on the petals. Polished up, it became shiny! Then, the jade cabochon was set into the piece.
Next, the antiquing liquid was brushed on to darken the veins. The stone was set by hammering the bezel inward and on top of the jade stone. Here it was, finished up: