2024
SOLID BANDED ONYX AND 24CT GOLD PLATED BRONZE
HAND CHISELED AND CAST IN FLORENCE
~20CM TALL
 
THE MAKING OF A HOME JEWEL
BANDED ONYX IS THE RESULT OF SLOW COLD WATER PRECIPITATION OF CALCITE SATURATED WITH IRON ORXIDIZED (RED) OR REDUCED (GREEN) CRYSTALS. IT COMES FROM A SINGLE LOCATION NEAR THE BORDER OF PAKISTAN WITH IRAN. 
 
THE FINAL SCULPTURE OF BANDED ONYX IS MADE FROM A PIECE UP TO 4 TIMES THE GRENADE'S SIZE. IT IS FIRST ROUGHLY CUT INTO SHAPE WITH WATER JETS AND THEN REFINED AND POLISHED WITH A CHISEL AND OTHER STONE TOOLS. 
THE GRENADE HANDLE AND SNAKE ARE CAST WITH A PROCESS CALLED LOST WAX CASTING. THIS MEANS IT'S FIRST SCULPTED IN WAX BY HAND. A MOULD IS MADE AROUND THIS AND MOLTEN BRONZE IS POURED INTO THE MOULD, MELTING THE WAX AND LEAVING ONLY THE BRONZE SCULPTURE.
 
THE BRONZE SNAKE  IS THEN JOINED TOGETHER IN THE RIGHT SHAPE TO GO AROUND THE GRENADE AND THE SEAMS ARE POLISHED AWAY. THE BUTTERFLY WINGS HAS IT'S DETAILS AND SHAPE HAMMERED BEFORE BEING ATTACHED TO THE BUTTEFLY BODY. 
 
THIS PIECE IS IN PRODUCTION.