In Metal the Metalsmith celebrates forging the many forked notes of beat-poetry of hammers strike and anvils ring. Mystic forms, symbols, ancient traditions and lifelong passions are directed into making rings sing. Simply twisting the pattern welded steel billet can produce: Damascus steel (layered patterns of folded and hot precision forged, banded, twisted and mottled metal reminiscent of Wood Grain, Rain Drops Flowing Water in random patterns of natures designs, geologic stratigraphy and even stars of the night sky). Tool steels with high carbon in its alloyed perfection are well-suited for today’s knives and jewelry alike.
Turkish Twist Pattern Welded Forged Steel in High Carbon and pure Nickle Bracelet/Cuff.
Working with Mokume Gane in silver, bronze and copper is very similar to working Steel Damascus. Yet Mokume has a difference which makes it much harder to work with than steel billets. Here with either precious or semi-precious non-ferrous metals containing no flux between the layers and no solder only diffused layers with heat and pressure much like Earths’ rock formations: Mokume Gane (Japanese, meaning wood grain/burl metal using this diffusion bonding technique of alternating metal layers. One can create many diverse patterns in Mokume Gane.
End Billet of a Mokume Gane Silver and Bronze Opal Necklace.
Mokume Gane Turkish Twist Star Patterned Copper, Silver, and Dicks Gold Earrings.
Silver and Copper Rain Drop Pattern Mokume Gane Cuffs.
Reflection of Wood Grain inside and Rain Drop Pattern Mokume Gane Silver and Copper Cuff.
Mokume Gane Turkish Twist Cuff with Stars in Silver and Copper.
Also casting such precious metal as this Saint Steno Trilobite Silver Bolo Tie shown below with buffalo horn and black leather.
Cast Silver Saint Steno Trilobite Necklace.
Saint Steno is the founder of Modern Geology and Paleontology. On Oct. 23, 1988, Pope Paul II beatified the Italian geologist Nicolaus Steno, declaring him Blessed. This was the third step in a four-step process that could lead to Steno’s canonization as a Saint in the Catholic Church from a Bishop. St. Steno is not well known as a religious figure. However, the idea that fossils found in older layers in the ground fostered explanations of fossilized ancient rock formations. His investigations and subsequent conclusions on fossils and rock formations have led scholars to consider him one of the founders of modern stratigraphy and modern geology. All this when he noticed the tooth of a modern shark brought to him by a Fisherman looked much the same as the fossilized shark tooth found in stone. I honor him with this silver casting of a Trilobite Necklace.
