Golden Botrus Teapot
Golden Botrus Teapot
This Saul Bell International Award finalist teapot was inspired from my love of minerals specimens with botryoidal crystal structures as a young girl . The beautiful “bumps” of these mineral specimens have always intrigued me.
The body was raised from a single sheet of sterling silver and the ancient technique of chasing and repoussé created the botryoidal bumps on the surface. Once completing the teapot by polishing the surface to a mirror finish I applied 23 ½ karat gold leaf over the surface of the “bumps.” I chose Pau Rosewood to be used for the handle and finial of the teapot. These two pieces were turned on a lathe to create the shapes.
Golden Botrus has a slightly curved bottom allowing it to rock ever so slightly when resting on the surface of a table. Dimensions: 4.5" height x 4" width x 4.25" length Year Created: 2016 Photography by Image Quest Photography/Terry Weckbaugh
Jewelry Items
This piece should not be worn when applying perfumes/colognes, hair spray, lotions etc. Any type of beauty product will potential corrode the metals’ surface and will need to be repaired by the maker. I suggest wiping the piece of jewelry with a soft, cotton cloth upon removal from your ears or neck. Keeping the jewelry in an airtight ziplock enclosure will deter patination or oxidation. This will also keep the gold leaf from being marred or scratched, providing the item is leafed.
Gold Leafed Items
Items that have been gold leafed have been sealed with an acrylic sealant. This item should not be exposed to water or moisture since the sealant is a water based product.
Silver Polishes or Cloths
PLEASE do not use silver polishes or rouge cloths on your items!!!! Rouge cloths contain a polishing compound that is meant to be used by a professional jeweler. Rouge is a polishing compound used on a high speed polishing wheel to provide a high polish. The cloth will indeed remove tarnish but it will also leave small scratches in the metal!!!!
Silver polishes or dips are very corrosive when not used properly!!!! Please contact Genevieve Flynn if you have any concerns about your piece and discuss this with her. She will happily work with you.
