Camellia Leaf Earrings

We tend to focus on the stunning flowers these plants produce, but they are very fleeting. Their leaves accompany us throughout the year, giving much-needed vibrant green when everything else is dreary. These are the leaves that stay with us. They are reminders to celebrate the constants in our lives, not just the high points; those things that give us stability, that anchor us and make us feel secure. 

Leaves - Fine Silver Hallmarked 999

Ear wires - Sterling silver

Leaf length 23 mm, width 18 mm

Overall length from ear wire apex to tip 40 mm

The fold-forming process

Each leaf starts off as a flat piece of sheet silver. It is folded in half then fold-formed by hand using hammers of different shapes - a process that stretches and bends the metal, creating sensuous organic shapes; exchanging straight sharp edges for smooth curves. The silver often requires annealling, as it hardens as you work it, becoming less malleable and prone to cracking. The exact placement of the hammer blows determines the direction of curves, and the final shape is only appreciated once the form is prised open.

I enjoy this process as it is a metaphor for life - our experiences hammer us into the individuals we are, too much hammering and we become inflexible, close-minded and yes, prone to cracking. We too require breaks away from this forging, to rest and realign prior to undergoing further forging.

Each piece formed in this way is unique, I don’t polish out any tool marks as these are part of the identity of the piece. Even earring pairs are subtly different, as it is impossible to produce exact replicas. This technique produces pieces that are very thin and light but have great structural strength and beautiful forms. 

ONLY ONE PAIR AVAILABLE