UR Mine
Whether you’re jealously possessive or just playfully covetous, this primitive mokume ring charm and handmade chain is the perfect way to let the world know s/he’s taken. Made from sterling silver and copper, the ring utilizes an ancient metal-working technique as a vehicle for post-modernistic design while the substantial hand-constructed chain is unique and binding as your love.
Mokume, or wood grain metal, is the process of laminating sheets of metal together, then selectively removing portions of the surface to reveal different colors of metal below. For this piece I soldered silver and copper together, and then rolled them fairly thin in a rolling mill. After that I used chasing tools to bump out the letters, and then filed the bumps flat to reveal the letters. The other letters were stamped onto silver and soldered onto the ring.
Like a lot of experimental pieces, this one is not without its unique characteristics. Owing to the delicacy of its construction, there is some interesting and unplanned patterning on one side. I also needed to overlap the ends rather than make them flush. Since the inside surface of the ring is copper, I would not recommend wearing this ring on your finger for extended periods of time which is why I made this beautiful chain to accompany it.
The chain is entirely hand constructed from copper and silver beginning with the wire. I make the mixed wire by twisting and soldering different types of metal together then I pull the aggregate wire through a drawplate until it’s smooth. I made links from this wire, and then plannished them flat. The result is a beautiful, soft mix of pink and white metal throughout. The pattern of the chain is links as described above joined to double jump rings that are not hammered. The handwrought clasp is simple and secure.
At the moment the finish of this piece is raw and bright. I usually like to leave my work skinned in pure silver, then I tumble them in plastic media for a soft finish. The patterning in both the ring and the chain will darken over time.
Specs: The ring is a size 7.5 and weighs 2.6 grams. The necklace is 22 inches ( 56 cm) long and weighs 17.2 grams.
