The kiln reveals my tiny glass lenses, fused to the steel strap.
Left, a drawer-pull as it was originally, right the result of two fuse firings.
Top of a 150-year-old thimble getting tube-riveted into place.
Laying the lens in place where it is to go. The tab of the lens has been riveted into place on the trap, but it acts as a pivot point, so it will be chained into place from above.
Creating the object to be viewed through that lens: a sawn-down piece of seaweed roots, with tiny shell fragments still embedded, will become the organic center of the piece.
The lens gets attached in four places with the tiny chain.
The drawer pull, now in place, will need to be suspended from the iron jaw above, so time to modify those parts to make that happen.
The drawer-pull ready to be drilled
with a tiny pin drill and miniature bit.
The steel jaw gets similar treatment, this time with a flex-shaft tool behind the bit.
Having finished with the metal manipulation of the trap, I can attach the more delicate materials with less fear of damaging them. The keyhole first, with glass fused into it...
The keyhole as it will be seen from the front.
A pearl to live in back.
Removing an eye for the central opening in the root ball.
And put in place.
Which leaves me safe to attach the lens permanently, as well as the little drawer-pull above. Now the structure is coming together.
Hand-drawing the text for the title into some asphaltum resist, which will then be etched into the nickel-silver bar.
While it's etching, I can move on to the cord.
Creating the clasp.
The hanging mechanism, complete.
The etched title bar is shaped,
and elements are created for it. Here I've taken two antique earnuts and some fine steel wire.
The whole assembly soldered together.
Creating the hanging element for the title bar completes the piece.
The neckpiece hung on my 'just finished' hook, awaiting its studio photo session.************************
The finished images of 'Two Sides of History' can be viewed here.
Or, for the person who simply can't live another day without owning it (there's only one out there!), you might prefer to check it out here.
At the time of writing this, I'm deep into a new neckpiece that will be posted here next week after my teaching weekend in Melbourne.
Thanks for visiting. Ciao!
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Absolutely breath-taking Keith!
ReplyDeleteYou vision and the execution of it is truly amazing. If by chance, upon seeing it in a case in a museum, I would certainly exclaim, "Look at that! How did the artist do it?" Even after seeing your step by step process, it is still a mystery to me. Wonderful piece.
ReplyDeleteFascinating! Love your art! Wish I had the space at home to try this kind of work, but I'm reduced to the computer :D
ReplyDelete