Icon object - The technique 

Techniques used are lost wax casting, casting in cuttlefish bone and fabrication. 

The word icon takes us to our somewhat shrouded, mysterious intimate being. The expression of spiritual relationships with our physical biological world can take many forms. The ornament could be the re-interpretation of a totem image, a tile with graphic marks reminding us of some ancient language, or a talisman. The resulting jewelry icon object is universal and very personal at the same time. 

 

Casting in cuttlefish bone is a method for gravity casting. Gravity casting is thousands of years old and was used in China and Greece. Two dry cuttlefish bones are rubbed against each other until they acquire a flat surface. To create jewelry design, a cavity may be cut directly into the surface of one or both bones. One may also press a model into the surface. An entry channel and gate for the melted metal is carved into the bone surface. A metal point is used to create vents leading away from cavity. The two bones are tied together with soft iron binding wire. The metal is melted in a crucible and slowly poured into the entry gate.

 

 

 

Icon object technique - Materials

 

The materials in the rings, pendants, earrings and statues are bronze, fine silver, 18K yellow gold, 24K gold, an alloy of seven pure metals and leather.

 

The bronze objects have been cast in an historical foundry in Rome, Italy.  The alloy is called statuary bronze.

 

I personally make the seven pure metals alloy and cast it in cuttlefish bone.