Brooch
34mm wide x 32mm high x 8mm deep

Inspiration
I found my inspiration for this piece in the diverse textures of some wood sculptures. This is what metal clay is about for me, with its receptivity to texture by both pressing in and carving, allowing me to craft surfaces in detail.

Techniques
Using the precision of a syringe, I carefully crafted the circular texture within the framework, ensuring seamless connection between each circle then strengthening the back with paste. To incorporate gold into the design, I crafted two flat sections, attaching them to the main frame by carefully cutting the syringe border, allowing them to sit seamlessly on the frame, in preparation for adding the gold foil using the Keum Boo technique. I then attached the embeddable brooch finding securely to the back.

To finish my piece, I used dried clay fragments and dust on my work surface, applying it using water to create an organic texture. After firing, I used the Keum Boo technique to add gold foil, burnishing it down to adhere to the hot silver surface. The process was repeated for the second section, creating a captivating blend of silver with gold highlights. I added patina and polished to highlight the textured design, contrasting and accentuating the details and gold highlights.

Materials
Fine silver clay
24k gold foil
Embeddable brooch finding

Juror’s Comments:

The design of this brooch is harmonious and well executed, the irregularity in the design makes it very attractive. The size, shape, proportion, contrast and color of the elements is balanced and highly effective.