Vesica Pisces Cuff; sterling silver with patina, end-cut amethyst, and two different types of cuts of faceted peridot.

This cuff was hand forged from wires of sterling into the basic shape that I laid out with the mount for the amethyst built up first. Then I used the rolling mill to impress a slight texture into the sterling. I pierced out the paisley design, and added another layer of paisleys on top. Then I added a variety of textures using engraving techniques used in printmaking. The tricky part was keeping the solder out of the textures while adding the tubes for the peridot. Then I added a patina using liver of sulfur.

Knowing that cuffs have to bend slightly in putting it on and removing it, I had to check and recheck the placement of the stones to make sure none of the settings would be strained in the process.

Vesica Pisces is the name of an ancient shape. It has been used to represent many ideals throughout history; Jesus, the goddess, vagina, free masonry, part of the Tree of Life pattern, and eternity. It is the joining of two circles forming what is sometimes called a pointy oval. This shape has been the basis for several of the symbols that I use in my work, such as the rocket and fish shapes. To me this represents both the spiritual and the effeminate.

The central point to this design was cutting the end cut amethyst into this shape and mounting it to relate in a way with the rest of the design; amethyst being the stone for Pisces, and peridot being for Libra (balance). The idea was to play with the symmetrical cab within a very organic and slightly asymmetrical cuff design, using the calming, dreamy, and stabilizing qualities of the stones. The way the significant shape of the cab relates to the whimsical layers of paisley flowers, depicts this careful balance of effeminate and spiritual.

Inspired by a conversation with ~ou8nrtist2 [link]

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