laurieopal: opal (Default)
It's one of the best things I've done and it felt like it was taking forever, especially some of the technical work. The fine carving took a lot of time and it was a pleasure.

It was made in 5 components and I've got photos of them below after the finished sculpture. The components are as they were unpolished and just cast, since they can't be polished until after they are assembled and soldered.



There are three dragons, one on the left side near the emerald, the large one on top with a black spinel eye, and the one swimming in the ocean. There is also a mermaid (only her tail shows) and a water snake.

The text is from a 17th century map and says "HC SUNT DRACONES".  The faceted stones are 4 emeralds (on the side pieces) and the black spinel in the large dragon's eyes. The three continents are cabochon Maw sit sit jade (jade-albite) from Burma, and the small archipelago is lava, moonstone, and garnet cabochons. I am _thrilled _ with how well this design worked out.

The sculpture is sterling and is 6" wide by 5" high. It's from the collection of Bayla Fine.

 
..
Top Dragon
 
..
HC SUNT DRACONES
 

 
..
Side Pieces with Dragon Will Have Emeralds
 
 

Assembled

laurieopal: opal (Default)
The fantasy sculpture needs more technical work before casting!!! The only good thing I can say is that I keep improving it, and I was very happy with the original. Hopefully this is the last time. I'm just glad I'm so very pleased with how it is looking aesthetically. I'm going to put up photographs of the final waxes, as well as the sculpture, so folks can see how it's constructed.

So I decided to put up a couple of stones I'd love to work with to delight myself.

This is a rock crystal with magnetite. It's about 2" high. It's clear with gorgeous inclusions. I tried photographing it on a white background but it didn't show the stone nearly as well as the black.






This a cheetah jasper with gorgeous apatite crystals. Width is about 3".




I'll be working on the final wax carving (I hope) on the fantasy map sculpture and I'll see if it grows more dragons.  Then I go back to continuing to work on the Burmese jade and natural pearls.

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laurieopal: opal (Default)
The bronze pendants are cast and I’m polishing them working on something subtle and pantined.

I’m starting to think on some original designs with minimal or no stones in bronze something quite different from my previous work. This is a long term project and I expect to be working on it for quite a while.

And the fantasy sculpture map in the final carving, is somewhat unexpectedly taking a lot of my time. It’s inspiring to work on

As you may have noticed, I’ve been working with pietersite more lately. This one is a lovely floral pietersite that has a delicacy that makes it special. It inspired a delicate design for the silver pendant.




It’s about 2” high and is from the collection of Bayla Fine.

I’m adding this a number of hours after I started writing this post, and the pendants are polished and I am very pleased with the finish! I can’t wait to see them with the stones.

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