I finished the custom order repousse’ brooch today, and am quite pleased with how it turned out! In my last post I talked about how I formed it using repousse’ and chasing. After forming, I sawed the brooch out of the background metal, then carefully filed the edges to the shape and smoothness I wanted. Next I used a texturing stamp and chasing hammer and textured the surface of the brooch. Once that was the way I wanted, I soldered the pin findings on the back (MUCH easier said than done – given the non-flat surfaces on the back!), then soldered on the bezel to hold the green onyx, then set the stone and gave the whole piece a final polish. I used a brass wheel in my flex shaft for the finish, but used a pumice wheel to finish the edges of the bezel around the stone after I hand burnished it.
I’m really pleased with how this turned out! I love the way repousse’ and chasing allow me to form the metal, and plan to do a lot more pieces using these techniques.
Front of the brooch in correct orientation
I apologize for the pictures – the color of the stone did not turn out very well. It is a lovely green onyx, and that doesn’t show at all!
Side view of the brooch - the color is better in this one.
another side view.... you can see the depth
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Thanks everyone! I don’t blog often enough, I know – but I get busy in the studio, and the blog just seems to get pushed to the side….
I love Hans Meevis’ blogs on his new pieces and how he did them, and hope mine at least approach that – although my writing certainly isn’t as entertaining!
Very nice Beth. Definitely raised the bar!
I enjoy reading your blog Beth. I shows me how much work I need to do to have a professional blog and website. Oh, and I like the brooch also.
Thanks all! I had not even thought of the hurricane similarity, but someone else mentioned that too….. isn’t it funny how something can look like something we weren’t even thinking of or intending?
Your repousse is gorgeous
Wonderful work Beth, I love the spiral design. Reminds me of the structure found in a typhoon/hurricane. The onyx makes a great storm eye.
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