 |  | | May 26, 2011 |
Hand Ornament 5
notes:
"From the Middle Ages through the 18th century, goldsmiths have been using the process of altering the appearance of a gemstone by changing or enhancing its color through the use of foils. The motives behind this were varied: from the desire to create a colorful gem from clear quartz, which was more abundant and found locally, to, later on, the need to obtain a desired uniformity of color in the ornaments of the 17th and 18th centuries. I became aware of this technique through my interest in historic jewelry, especially Medieval and Renaissance ornaments. After exploring geometric, crystalline shapes in my three-dimensional, enameled brooches, I turned next to working with real crystals. There are many reasons why I choose to work in the format of "hand ornaments," as I call them, since the dimensions of these objects are related to the hand rather than the finger. For one, the hand ornament is a three-dimensional object that is worn directly on the body without any findings. It is worn on the hand, and therefore not subject to weight restrictions as other ornaments. Most importantly, a hand ornament is a piece of jewelry constantly enjoyed by the wearer because of its prominent position on the body. These objects work on several levels: The crystals are cut freehand with the most interesting and beautiful parts of their individual natural mineral surface left intact. The polished facets establish a contrast to the naturally grown surfaces and serve as windows into the complex interior space. In place of the historic foils, engraved drawings and enamel introduce color, set a mood and complement nature and artifice. These wearable objects represent small worlds within themselves and make a bold statement at the same time." -Barbara Seidenath
materials:
silver; crystal; enamel
price:
$3,000 |
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