The Black And The White

[The Justified Sinner]

I finished the Cold Genius!

Everything: now to send it off to Goldsmiths' Hall for their craft and design competition.

 

 

The box is made from an old wooden box which held a precision lathe. I rubbed it down, waxed it and lined it.

 

 

The plaque on the lid reads:

"Ye Cold Genius
"Being ane most sincere tribute to
"Mr Henry Purcell, Composer
"From
"Mr Dauvit Alexander, Jewell'r"

 

 

The piece in the box, which is lined with icy-white velvet!

 

 

The piece out of the box, with chain attached. 

 

 

Another view, close-up. You can see the figure of the Cold Genius through the quartz prism in his "Ice Cave".

 

 

The main lid open, showing the "scrim", Act II!

 

 

Diamond snowflakes and large aquamarine crystal visible through the scrim.

 

 

Act III: the finger of Cupid points down to awake the Cold Genius from his slumber. The finger is a copy of a Victorian bog-oak brooch, which I scanned with a 3d Scanner and then milled out from water-buffalo bone.

 

 

The Cold Genius removed to be worn as a brooch.

 

 

 

Rear view, showing the engraving of the aria which inspired the whole piece and the catch mechanism which holds the brooch in place.

 

---

 

Although I have another major project to start ("Beneath The Skin"), I've not done the drawings for it yet, so had time today to get back to a piece which I began in the spring of 2010, "The Lobster Quadrille", a collar and matching earrings made from Whitby jet, porcelain "faux coral", gemstones and corroded lobster pot. Most of it was made but for some reason, I never got round to setting it, until today.

 

 

The main collar, showing the setting for the carved jet lobster, the porcelain faux coral (by Lisa Stevens), a black tourmaline crystal, quartz in various forms, pearls,  and black spinels. The very organic-looking metallic material is the corroded iron lobster pot, picked up on a beach in Dorset.

 

 

Earrings featuring black spinels, pearls, porcelain faux coral and two carved Whitby jet winkles. These are a very traditional form of jet carving from the town and were carved to commission by Kev Dixon in Whitby.

 

 

This is the jet lobster I bought from Kev about four years ago and never did anything with as I couldn't ever think on quite the right project. 

 

[The Justified Sinner]

Sophia, I am so very enormously influenced by music that I have never had any doubt as to the equality of music and poetry with the more physical of the arts! I am glad you understand and enjoy my tribute. 

 

2Roses, many thanks. I think it is the bit of me that likes teaching which makes me post so much information. That and the fact that I am usually overwhelmed with excitement by my own processes. 

[Sophia Georgiopoulou]

What a beautiful tribute to the creative genius whether it be literary, musical or poetic (in ancient Greek signifying "the maker's genius")--poets and jewellers were of equal value, both being makers and craftsmen...

Thank you for sharing the "becoming" process of the piece with us.

Sophia

[2Roses]

Absolutely fantastic Dauvit! You are the counterpoint to all the artists who post images of their work with no comment, no description - nothing. The generosity of your sharing your process is sheer genius and an art form in itself.

[The Justified Sinner]

Thanks for the comment! I find big pieces like that to be very emotionally draining, so it is good to find it well received.

[Brigitte Martin]

What an absolutely unbelievable piece this is. I have grown quite fond of the "cold genius". Thanks for letting us all watch the piece come together :-)