Materials: Sterling Silver .925
Dimensions: 25mm deep the rim 10mm
These scored crystal balls were absent the cups for the matches they were intended to hold. I think that they were from Tiffany and brought to India and Turkey in the 18th century.
I think that bringing something back to life is as important as making something magic and new. A Lee Marshall Bonny Doon 20 ton Hydraulic deep draw press and kit were used for this project. I used automotive tools to make the washers that made the rims. The cup is 25 mm deep and the lip 10mm. I made a custom dooming block to get the anticlastic curve to match the crystal strikers.
They matched, they looked beautiful and I used my carpentry skills and tools to complete this project.
Photo credit: John Weninger
John Weninger
John Weninger Designs
Santa Barbara, CA. USA
I have been working with precious metals since the 1970’s. I had an impressive business in junior high and high school. I was also very good at carpentry. See my website.
I am a contractor, a certified green gardener and a silver smith. One of my grandfathers was a famous jeweler on my mothers side of the family. He build the first clock in a tower at Yale University in 1795 as an apprentice.
I learned how to engrave, one on one, from an expert Mexican engraver and stone setter. Every Saturday for 9 hours for over two years.
I had slowly invested my profits from selling my art to buy better tools.
These containers and vessels definitely hold their place in the world of stunning art objects as well as in the world of metalsmithing.
Since the dawn of time humans have created containers to hold things that were important to them, from large vessels to hold food and harvests to intimate containers for small precious things. They might hold memories, ashes, medicine, beverage, fruit or food - but all spring from the imagination and skill of the maker. Some have specific religious functions, some are meant for everyday use. When one thinks of a vessel or container the inclination is to think of something with solid walls - yet many of these works involve the exploration of positive and negative space, and the use of negative space to help create the illusion of the wall of the vessel.
As the world’s largest jewelry related internet site, Ganoksin strives to develop exhibitions showcasing work from around the world. This exhibition was open to all metalsmiths, professional and amateur, advanced and beginner. Participants are from The Netherlands, the USA, Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, Israel, Hong Kong, Colombia, Romania, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia and Denmark. While most of the pieces are by an individual metalsmith, some are collaborations, one of three artists spanning 50 years.
In total 319 artists contributed 729 show pieces for the permanent online exhibition.
Objects in the exhibition include boxes, lockets, urns, ash containers, bowls, wine cups, reliquaries, match holders, vases, teapots, pitchers, sugar bowls, baskets, nests, pillboxes, clutches and a range of sculptural forms. A variety of techniques are showcased covering a wide range of metalsmithing techniques. Materials used include everything from gold and silver to less expensive metals. Ornamentation includes the addition of enamel, chasing and repousse’, gemstones and found objects.
The exhibition was curated by Beth Wicker, President of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths in the United States, and Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern Technical College in South Carolina. Director of the exhibition is Hanuman Aspler, founder of The Ganoksin Project, the world’s largest internet jewelry site.
