I started by raising a disc of fine silver into a small bowl. This piece sat around in my studio for several years before I landed on an idea to make it into a hibiscus blossom. It is purely a decorative object but one that will bring a smile and remembrances of the summer time.

After the idea solidified with me I began the process of filling the bowl with pitch and I began the ancient metals technique of chasing. This means I worked on the outside to detail the leaves of the blossom. I then cut away small portions of the metal around the leaves and created the softness of the blossom. I cold forged a silver wire that would end up in the center of the blossom to represent the stamen and anthers. It was then granulated with fine silver and 24kyg beads.

Once the piece was completed, I attached an Argentium wire to create the stem of the flower, which ended up being the support structure of the blossom. All of the pieces were highly polished. I then applied 24kyg leaf to the outside surface of the blossom.

To complete the look I slumped a disc of clear glass in my kiln, to create a plate and the hibiscus blossom rests in the center of the plate for decoration to any room.

CREATED: 2022

MATERIALS: 24K YG LEAFING, ARGENTIUM SILVER, 24K YG & FINE SILVER GRANULATION

DIMENSIONS: 8” HEIGHT X 5” BASE

PHOTOGRAPHY: IMAGE QUEST PHOTOGRAPHY, TERRY WECKBAUGH

ONE OF A KIND