In various ferrous and non-ferrous metals, the metalsmith celebrates the many forked notes of beat poetry—hammers striking, anvils ringing. Mystic forms, symbols, ancient traditions, and lifelong passions are forged into objects that carry both sound and memory.
Through fire and force, metal is shaped into something that speaks.
Damascus Steel
Pattern-welded steel—commonly known as Damascus—is created through the layering, folding, and precision forging of metals under heat and pressure. The resulting patterns emerge like natural phenomena:
Wood grain
Flowing water and rain drops
Geologic stratigraphy
Even constellations in the night sk
Turkish Twist Pattern Welded Forged Steel in High Carbon and pure Nickle Bracelet/Cuff.
By twisting and manipulating the billet, each piece becomes a one-of-a-kind record of movement and process. High-carbon tool steels, alloyed for strength and resilience, make Damascus ideal for both functional objects and enduring jewelry.
Opal in Stratanumber 20 End Billet series of a Mokume Gane Silver and Bronze Opal Necklace.
Billet End Series
This pendant is cut from the end of a Mokume Gane billet—material typically discarded in the forging process. Here, the layers are revealed in cross-section, exposing the internal structure of copper and red brass like geological strata.
Set with an opal, the piece contrasts forged density with living light—metal shaped by pressure and stone. Cut from what is often discarded, this piece reveals the hidden structure of Mokume Gane—the compressed layers of metal exposed like strata. The opal holds light within, a contrast to the forged density around it.” formed through time.
Each piece in these series is one of a kind.
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.
Cast Silver Saint Steno Trilobite Necklace.
The Saint Steno Medallion:
Also featured is a cast silver trilobite piece inspired by Nicolas Steno—a founder of modern geology and stratigraphy.
Steno’s insight—that fossils were once living organisms—changed how we understand the earth. His observations of layered rock led to the principles of stratigraphy, revealing that the ground beneath us holds a readable history of time.
The trilobite, an ancient marine creature preserved in stone, becomes both subject and symbol:
A remnant of deep time
A record of life fossilized in layers
A bridge between science and meaning
This piece honors Steno’s legacy—where observation becomes understanding, and the natural world reveals its story through form.
Elrathia kingii
The Saint Steno Medallion is inspired by the life and work of Nicolas Steno—a pioneer who first recognized that fossils were the preserved remains of ancient life.
At the center of this piece is a trilobite—Elrathia kingii—a marine arthropod that lived over 500 million years ago. Its form is rendered in relief, echoing the fossil impressions found in stone throughout the American West.
A Fossil Cast in Time
This sterling silver medallion and chain reflects the moment when observation became understanding—when “tongue stones” were no longer curiosities, but evidence of deep time.
The trilobite becomes:
A symbol of ancient life preserved in stone
A marker of geological time and transformation
A quiet testament to Steno’s realization that the earth holds a readable history
The textured surface and layered metal evoke the compression and pressure that form both fossils and rock strata—mirroring the same forces that shaped the Red Rocks landscape.
Science, Faith, and the Natural World
Steno’s life bridged science and faith—moving from anatomical discovery to spiritual devotion. This medallion reflects that duality:
A fossil—scientific, physical, measurable A medallion—symbolic, personal, contemplative
Together, they form a piece that exists between observation and meaning.
This piece is currently available through the Morrison Natural History Museum, where the legacy of ancient life and the study of geology continue to inspire.
Silver and Copper Turkish Twist Star Patterned Cuff with a Traditional Wood Grained Cuff.
