Fall 2010

Chalcedony Ring

Here are some one of a kind pieces. 

Felt Necklace

Chalcedony Fleur Di Lis Earrings

Lapis Rings

Peridot Rings

Ribbon Rings

Los Angeles in the Rain

I have a wonderful friend that has lived out in LA for years. Last January I finally visited him. Since he has been to see me in New York twice, I felt it was time to make the trip, and it would be a welcome break from the cold winter. 

The first thing I was surprised to see was an active oil well on the way from the airport. Set against the desert flora, it was strangely beautiful in a Paleozoic way.

Griffith Park was also amazing. The sweeping views of the canyons were fantastic. I wanted to start walking on the trails but the rain started so we headed inside the observatory.  The observatory itself is worth the trip. It has some of the largest meteors I have ever seen. It's hard to imagine large chunks of iron being thrown at the earth. This is a great photo of one, note the large crystal pattern caused by slow cooling.

I also enjoyed walking around downtown LA. It has such a concentrated art deco influence. 

Thanks for putting me up Phil! And I hope to return the favor soon.

Arms and Armor

I love the metropolitan Museum of Art. Over the past 10 years, I have visited about a hundred times.  It is one of those magical places that always has something new to offer. My all time favorite section is the Arms and Armor. The skill of the craftsmanship is breathtaking. I am so dependent on my flex shaft and torch I could not imagine the amount of time it took to finish these pieces by hand.

This is a head defense for a horse. It is the elaborately decorated example ever found. It is made of iron, silver and gold by Tibetan craftsman in the 15th century.

The helmut is from 16th century Japan also known as the Momoyama period. It was made of lacquered iron for old men to wear.

This is a replica of traditional 12th century Japanese armor. It was made in the Edo period (18th century) It is made of lacquered iron slats that have been woven together with leather and silk.

Featured Stone: Rose Quartz

Hardness:7

Toughness: good

Rose Quartz is a microcrystalline quartz. The mineral's delicate color comes from titanium, iron, and manganese. This gem frequently has internal inclusions that look translucent to opaque. Some stones will even display asterism. The finest quality rose quartz comes from Brazil.

Rose Quartz has been used as a religious object for thousands of years.

It is a symbol of love and beauty

The name quartz comes from the Saxon word querklufterz which meant cross vein ore.

The Istanbul Collection

I have always been fascinated by the designs on persian rugs. The interlocking vines and leaves are so beautiful and delicate. I wanted to create jewelry to celebrate this timeless design.

The pomegranate is a powerful symbol for many cultures.  The Armenians use it to symbolize fertility, abundance and marriage.

Hatayi is a style of motif mainly from the 15th century. They usually represent flowers or plant like design.

A special thanks to Erica Lopez and Natasha Poetre for their awesome photographs! 

The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith

On a miserable January day, I decided to play hooky and spend the day at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. While walking around I heard the faint sound of Jazz in the back ground. As I continued to explore the rooms, the jazz became louder and louder. As I entered the gallery from which the music was playing I was floored, it was a show of the Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith.

Oh the joy in my heart as I moved from case to case. I have always loved to forge wire and create torque necklaces, but this was something different. These were the pieces I always wanted to create but somehow fell short. The designs are so deceptively simple and very complex at the same time. They just seem to float, like a Calder mobile.

I managed to return to the gallery about three more times before it closed in February. I have to resist the urge to pull out my planishing hammers and go to town. My neighbors tend to get a bit touchy about nonstop hammering. Until then, I still have my photos and design ideas.....

Featured Stone: Chalcedony

  

Hardness: 6 1/2 – 7
Toughness: Good

Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline silica aggregate, it is made up of microscopic crystals of quartz and morganite. Chalcedonies vary greatly in color due to its chemical composition. In its simplest form, chalcedony is white to milky grey. The presence of metallic salts give this stone a variety of color. The Chalcedony family includes bloodstone, chrysoprase, jasper, and onyx.
   

•  Chalcedony is named for an ancient Turkish seaport Chalcedon.
•  Greek sailors wore chalcedony to avoid drowning.
•  17th century Europeans believed chalcedony would ward of ghosts.
•  Native American Indians believed chalcedony was a sacred stone.