Red Sea Bamboo and Silver Necklace
Red Sea Bamboo and Silver Necklace
A necklace of sea bamboo barrel-shaped beads, interspersed with oxidised silver wire hand-made beads. The silver beads have been textured by the application of silver grains. Also, the silver has been darkened by applying an oxidising solution - this gives the wire and grains more definition, and the texture is more easily seen. All parts of the necklace are sterling silver, including the hook and chain fastening…the chain is long enough to ensure that the necklace fits all sizes.
Sea bamboo is a natural underwater organism typically found in the south seas and the Philippines.
It can be gathered on beaches or harvested, and when dead it is stark white. It is often dyed in shades of orange or red to resemble coral. Sea bamboo is sold at international gem fairs and Its import and sales are totally legal.
Good design is the most important element I aim to feature in my work – that, plus colour and texture. I spend a lot of time hunting out good stone merchants who can provide me with unusual cuts of stones, and I would say these are my unique selling point. Usually I will only make one or two of any particular design, hence people really are buying unique pieces of art work. I like to use textured stones – rough crystals, unusual corals and pearls, lava and ammonites are all materials I incorporate in my work. I also use a number of techniques to create interesting surfaces, including etching, reticulation and even the ancient Etruscan art of granulation. Necklaces are my signature pieces, although I also do an interesting line in unusual earrings and finger rings.
