Collectors & Archived Art
The Hercules beetle is among nature's most dramatic creatures — armored, ancient-looking, built for strength rather than delicacy. It is an unlikely subject for jewelry, and exactly the right one.
This wide cuff bracelet is worked entirely in fine silver, its surface brought to life through chasing and repoussé — techniques that push and coax metal from both sides until the image emerges in full three-dimensional relief. The beetle dominates the composition, its rigid wing covers rendered with quiet precision, its great horn arcing upward with unmistakable authority. Beneath it, the lobed surface of an oak leaf provides a naturalistic ground, its edges dissolving into negative space where the silver has been pierced away — allowing light to pass through and the bracelet to breathe. At one end, a large acorn anchors the composition, a fitting counterweight that completes the oak's story.
The cuff is 2 inches wide, its substantial visual presence balanced by a thoughtful structural decision: Argentium silver square wire runs along both inner edges, providing the rigid support that allows fine silver's softness to be used for the expressive surface work above. The result is a piece that is as sound as it is striking.
This piece is from the artist's personal collection.
One of a Kind
Width: 2"
Year Completed: 2015
Photography by Image Quest Photography/Terry Weckbaugh
Collectors & Archived Art
The Hercules beetle is among nature's most dramatic creatures — armored, ancient-looking, built for strength rather than delicacy. It is an unlikely subject for jewelry, and exactly the right one.
This wide cuff bracelet is worked entirely in fine silver, its surface brought to life through chasing and repoussé — techniques that push and coax metal from both sides until the image emerges in full three-dimensional relief. The beetle dominates the composition, its rigid wing covers rendered with quiet precision, its great horn arcing upward with unmistakable authority. Beneath it, the lobed surface of an oak leaf provides a naturalistic ground, its edges dissolving into negative space where the silver has been pierced away — allowing light to pass through and the bracelet to breathe. At one end, a large acorn anchors the composition, a fitting counterweight that completes the oak's story.
The cuff is 2 inches wide, its substantial visual presence balanced by a thoughtful structural decision: Argentium silver square wire runs along both inner edges, providing the rigid support that allows fine silver's softness to be used for the expressive surface work above. The result is a piece that is as sound as it is striking.
This piece is from the artist's personal collection.
One of a Kind
Width: 2"
Year Completed: 2015
Photography by Image Quest Photography/Terry Weckbaugh
