Waterloo, IA. USA
Continuing my past explorations into humorous narrative imagery done through metals and jewelry, the brooches in the Cartouche Series are fabricated from sterling silver and copper combined with lithographed tin from advertising tins, pinbacks, product containers, and toys manufactured over the last one-hundred-thirty years. These tins represent an excellent overview of popular culture and lithographed tin images are particularly rich and interesting in both design and printing. These images are sandwiched between layers of metal. The top layer is sterling silver, etched and patinated with my own hieroglyphs, enhancing the narrative set up between the text of the pin (these are American, from the 1940s) and the lithographed tin image.
Materials: Sterling silver, copper, lithographed tin Dimensions: H 1.5" W 3.38" D .5"
The brooch is fabricated from sterling silver (etched and patinated) and copper enclosing antique lithographed tin images, fastened with bolts and nuts.
Photo credit: J. Mark McIlwain