Willing to Risk It
Elva Fields
Inspired by the Anaïs Nin quote, "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom," we love a gal who's willing to be courageous in her choices. Though the first thing you likely notice about this stunner of a gem is the gob-smacking gorgeousness and bold scale of the beautiful bloom in chartreuse at the side, don't go to sleep on the beads behind it. Made entirely by hand through the laborious process of lost wax casting by talented craftspeople in Ghana, each bead begins as a 3-D model painstakingly constructed in wax that is then encased in plaster or clay. Molten metal - in this case brass - is poured into the clay surround, melting the wax and taking the place of the bead's shape within the clay. Once the brass cools, the clay is removed, revealing a beautiful brass bead that perfectly replicates the original wax form in muted gold and soft bronze hues typical of brass metal. These works of art alternate with faceted brass beads from India (and, at back, with faceted bright green crystal beads,) but let's get back to that flower!
Fashioned by hand of papier-mâché that is then encased with an enameling coat of glossy green and centered with fabric stamens, the blossom of a brooch is accompanied by matching earrings that clip on over the strands as desired, making for a versatile design that can be abundantly floral or a one-and-done deal. A 14 karat gold-over-copper toggle clasps at back, and the necklace measures 19.5" length at its shortest strand.
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