![South Seas Orb [view desc]](http://api.ning.com/files/uIEwFPTh0BMh*S8UBBaXgJ8*OWkN*bWLRRESK-y0AE1qMpfvKJMyNWssXqFEHJNm/SouthSeasOrb.JPG?width=531&height=600)
CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY NETWORK
South Seas Orb [view desc]
Well, here's a bit of indulgence...
I've been mucking about fabricating onto pearls lately, and decided to turn this 15 mm South Seas Pearl into an orb, made practical as a pendant.
I began making it on Australia Day, and originally had the motif of the Southern Cross in mind, but I think I got swamped by sheer opulence... [perhaps I was subconsciously won over by the Consummate Charm of Prince William on his Vice-Regal Tour of Pre-Emption immediately prior to 'Strayer Day'...]
And also, that Muse of 'squaring the circle', in some abstracted form or another, which has always underpinned my work, called too strongly for me to resist... The Orb has always been some form of circle squared: the resolution of the difference between heaven and earth.
Fabricated in 18k yellow, white and rose golds, I set 2-point rubies in the rose shot. I did think about setting both rubies and sapphires, but decided to forgo the 'red, white and blue' that the rubies, sapphires and pearl would have presented. Besides, the rubies pick up the pink lustre of the pearl better.
For twenty years I've set pearls without drilling them, bezel-setting them as I normally would with other gems. To my mind, this leaves the integrity of the pearl intact [Tony Abbot would be pleased...]
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Comment
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Comment by Melissa Cameron on January 29, 2010 at 2:26pm -
I know what you mean about your subconscious 'getting it', I wish mine would tell me what I already know a bit quicker sometimes...
Is the photo online? I'd be keen to have a look.
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Comment by Phill Mason on January 29, 2010 at 2:09pm -
Yeah, Melissa, I guess I meant less technically fractal, and more overtly shifted iterations. I can see now that your work is technically fractal, but it hadn't registered in my awareness. Obviously my subconscious 'got it' though, for me to have raised the issue...
I designed a facet cut design based on the iteration of a square to the power of four - each square facet being four times larger or four times smaller than the next. I cut my first stone in this design two years ago. It's the first time I've known of fractals being used in the cutting of gemstones (although, under the sun...). I've photographed it...
Yes, we did meet briefly at the opening of the Australian Silversmiths BUDA exbn at the Arts Centre. That was me making introductions between Emma Goodsir and people she already knew... Isn't Life a scream...
Phill.
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Comment by Melissa Cameron on January 29, 2010 at 1:44pm
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Thanks Phill! (got the ll's this time, sorry 'bout the last one)
Fractals have actually been a part of my research, in fact I devoted part of a chapter in my thesis to them. I work with changes of scale a lot, and so have repetitions of the patterns I make at shifting scales within the same work - technically fractal - within what I already do. Do you mean actually working with standard fractal sets, or being a little more obvious in repetition of shifted scale motifs?
Did we maybe meet in Melbourne briefly at the BUDA Arts Centre do? I wish I could have gone to Toowoomba myself, but as they say, hindsight is 20/20.
Melissa
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Comment by Phill Mason on January 29, 2010 at 12:49pm
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Hey Melissa,
Thanks for your appreciation. It's a hoot making stuff, isn't it...?!
I greatly enjoy what you're doing also; re-interpreting those powder compacts, etc. I first really took notice of your work when I saw it in the 'Contemporary Wearables' up in Toowoomba last year, and then saw more of it in eg.etal.
You've probably already thought of/experimented with this, but I'd love to see your technique applied to Fractals...
Cheers,
Phill.
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Comment by Melissa Cameron on January 29, 2010 at 9:37am
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Hi Phil,
Have to say, I enjoyed your description as much as the image. Well done, on all fronts!
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