Stem Vase with Three Stones
Stem Vase with Three Stones

This piece is unusual in my output because I created it with no pre-conceived design in mind. I had 35 triangular corner-cuttings of sterling sheet left over from earlier work and simply began to stack them in a sort of spiral staircase. During construction of this spiral, I began to see it as a base for a stem vase.

As the overall piece arrived at a pleasing proportion, I realized that the mouth of the vase was too wide to hold flower stems upright. So I decided to create a lattice-work insert for the top. Then, while designing this insert, I imagined stem-coloured gemstones set as part of the pattern. As it turned out, the polished interior of the vase backlit these gems beautifully and amplified their luminosity.

The process throughout was purely intuitive.

Raw materials for the spiral, and the beginning of its construction.
The spiral with 17 "steps" built up thus far.
Raw materials for the spiral, and the beginning of its construction.
The spiral with 17 triangular steps built up thus far.
Finished spiral of 33 steps, and a sterling disk to be smithed into the vase.
Early stages of smithing the vase.
Finished spiral of 33 steps, and a sterling disk to be smithed into the vase.
Early stages of smithing the vase.
After multiple courses of hammering and annealing, the vase approaches its final proportion.
A detail of the finished vase showing the lattice-work insert with three stones — a diamond, a natural tanzanite (brown), and an apatite (green).
After multiple courses of hammering and annealing, the vase approaches its final proportion.
A detail of the finished vase showing the lattice-work insert with three stones — a diamond, a natural tanzanite (brown), and an apatite (green).
The finished piece.
The finished piece.
Keywords: 
Precise Soldered Construction
Raising Technique
Intuitive Creative Process